At TÜV Süd’s facility in Garching, Germany, a hydrogen testing laboratory has been set up. It is anticipated that the second stage will be finished by the end of the year.
As a storage medium, hydrogen is vital for increased independence from raw material and electricity imports in the energy transition. Tanks, valves, lines, sensors, pressure regulators, fuel cells, stacks, and distribution systems must all meet extremely high standards of component and product safety because of this. When it comes to the validation and development of product designs, material selection and qualification, type approval, and certification, TÜV Süd has a state-of-the-art test facility that can help. Expertise in all country-specific regulations and guidelines guarantees a successful national and worldwide market entry.
Martin Sekura, Hydrogen Business Development Manager at TÜV Süd, says, “Our laboratory in Garching provides all the possibilities to test the H 2 compatibility and safety of components and systems reliably and affordably.” The tightness and resistance to pressure cycles, as well as the behavior of test samples in the case of flow, overpressure, or bursting, are all assessed here. Aspects like dissemination and media compatibility are also taken into account. Additional TÜV Süd test facilities are available for hydraulic tests, environmental simulations, and electromagnetic compatibility testing.
Whether it’s gaseous or liquid hydrogen, you can get it all here
Because we employ the most advanced equipment, the new test laboratory is not just unique…. As a result, all materials and components may be evaluated to see if they can be used with hydrogen in gas or liquid form. “And throughout all industries.”
Vehicle tanks and components of mobile fuel cells are also included in this category of fuel cell components. Large seal manufacturers, carbon fiber pressure vessel manufacturers, and automobile suppliers are among the most prominent pilot customers.
Garching is one of the few laboratories in the world that can perform qualification and benchmark tests on metallic and nonmetallic materials at low cost, with high reliability, and with excellent quality. Material compatibility and permeability with hydrogen are important considerations in the evaluation process. The new TÜV Süd laboratory also offers testing of components on the road to type approval and certification.
On the H 2 plan, the second of three stages of expansion is now underway
At the Straubing and Mannheim facilities, Martin Sekura says, “we are installing new capacity for environmental and EMC tests under full hydrogen pressure, among other things.” The second stage of the test laboratory expansion will be finished by the end of the year. Options for longer load cycle analyses and high flow testing are also available at Garching. In 2024, a new laboratory will be established to evaluate tank systems from the heavy-duty vehicle and industrial sectors. “We are well-positioned in times of actively growing hydrogen markets.”
