As the demand for hydrogen pressure accumulators grows, ensuring their safety and reliability becomes paramount. In a groundbreaking collaboration, the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), together with Saarland University, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), is developing a fully automated monitoring system for hydrogen pressure accumulators.
This innovative project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, aims to revolutionize the monitoring of hydrogen storage facilities during operation, thus enhancing their material efficiency, safety, and environmental impact.
Hydrogen pressure storage tanks serve as essential components in storing the climate-friendly energy source for diverse applications, particularly in the realm of renewable energies and mobility. To meet the demands for pressure accumulators with up to 700 bar, it is crucial to ensure the reliability and safety of the materials used in these tanks. This collaborative endeavor seeks to address these critical aspects through state-of-the-art technology and advanced monitoring techniques.
The project team is harnessing the power of “structural health monitoring” techniques in conjunction with guided ultrasonic waves to enable continuous monitoring of the storage facilities during operation. The ultrasonic waves propagate throughout the entire component, and sensors meticulously record any changes that may indicate cracks or material fatigue. This cutting-edge monitoring system, when fully developed, can be installed on any pressure vessel at a low cost. It offers real-time data on the storage status, which is then meticulously analyzed using artificial intelligence (AI). Through AI evaluation, the condition of the hydrogen pressure accumulators can be assessed promptly and effectively.
BAM is conducting tests on both intact and previously damaged pressure vessels at pressures of up to 700 bar. These tests generate valuable data, which acts as a training dataset for the AI system. The responsible programming is carried out by Saarland University, while Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main contributes algorithms capable of calculating disruptive environmental and operational influences, such as temperature or pressure, which can affect the sound waves in the data. Meanwhile, IKTS is instrumental in developing the necessary hardware components and simulation models for these tests.
The innovative monitoring system not only ensures the safety of hydrogen pressure accumulators but also provides crucial information on the required wall thickness of the tanks. In the long run, researchers aim to utilize these electronic monitoring methods to achieve safety reserves that previously demanded more carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP). The advantage of this approach is twofold: it reduces the reliance on energy-intensive CFRP production and optimizes the ecological footprint of hydrogen-based mobility and infrastructure. Lighter tanks that maintain durability can play a pivotal role in the overall sustainability of hydrogen utilization.
The collaborative effort of BAM, Saarland University, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) in developing a fully automated monitoring system for hydrogen pressure accumulators marks a significant leap forward in hydrogen storage technology. By harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence and guided ultrasonic waves, this project ensures safer, more reliable, and material-efficient hydrogen storage tanks. As the world embraces hydrogen as a crucial energy carrier, advancements like these lay the foundation for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.
