Press Releases

CLEAN ENERGY SOLUTION

Moeller components have been chosen by a company pioneering the conversion of electrical energy into hydrogen as a medium for environmentally friendly and emission-free energy storage.

The circuit-breakers and contactors are in operation with the HySTAT-A onsite hydrogen generators manufactured by Hydrogenics Europe, the Belgian branch of the Canadian based Hydrogenics Corporation.

Hydrogenics is a leading manufacturer of hydrogen generators and fuel cells.

Its HySTAT-A hydrogen generator station uses Inorganic Membrane Electrolyis Technology (IMET) to generate hydrogen at up to 60 Nm3/h, using inorganic membranes with a very high efficiency.

This process requires water and an electrical connection, necessitating close attention to plant safety and reliability. To ensure optimum performance, Hydrogenics chose circuit-breakers, contactors and miniature circuit-breakers from Moeller.

The electric power is fed via one or several 250A NZM2 compact circuit-breakers, with DILM contactors used on the primary side for the supply of the three-phase transformer. A three-phase rectifier on the secondary side provides the DC voltage to the electrolysis cells so that the electrolysis can begin.

NZM circuit breakers reliably protect all cables and conductors in the plant from overload and short-circuit currents, with integral microprocessor controlled digital electronics continuously measuring the operating current r.m.s values of the electrolyzer.

Unlike analogue electronics, any harmonics in the network are evaluated correctly and do not produce nuisance tripping.

In the event of a fault, the cause of tripping such as phase imbalance is logged in an internal memory, with ten events stored in the history together with detailed facts enabling the fault source to be identified rapidly if necessary.

The information is presented clearly in the field with the NZM-XPC-SOFT software, and all data can be stored, printed out and distributed for later troubleshooting tasks.

While circuit-breakers primarily protect hydrogen generators from short-circuit and overload, DILM contactors are used for the actual on and off switching of the electrolysis cells concerned.

The largest plant, HyStat-A 1000Q-60-10 runs up to four cell stacks in parallel, switched on or off according to the hydrogen requirement.

The DILM contactors not only offer an optimum lifespan in standard AC-3A operation, but are also ideal for switching transformers in AC-6A operation, having specifications for active safety such as interlocked opposing contacts, safe isolation or contact protection.

All DILM contactors up to 170A are provided with box terminals with two terminal chambers, enabling users to also wire different conductor cross-sections safely, reliably and without error.

ENDS

PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: IMET electrolysis cells

Issued on behalf of CBI-electric Industrial Controls (Moeller Division)
Further information: José Ruivo (manager sales & marketing)
Telephone: +27 11 977-0700
Fax: +27 11 977-0758
e-mail: ruivo@moeller.co.za
P O Box 100, KEMPTON PARK, 1620, SOUTH AFRICA

Issued by Thrush Industrial Marketing
Contact: Alan Thrush
Telephone: +27 11 483-1511
Fax: +27 11 483-3160
e-mail: info@thrushindustrial.co.za
P O Box 1933, HIGHLANDS NORTH, 2037, SOUTH AFRICA

« Back