Department Hydrogen Infrastructure

In the field of hydrogen infrastructure, ZBT focuses in particular on mobility. The department addresses the entire value chain, from hydrogen production to logistics and distribution to refuelling station technology. In addition, the Hy-Lab located here is concerned with analysing the purity of hydrogen. And

H2 refuelling station technology

For the market launch of fuel cell-based mobility, efficient and cost-effective refuelling technologies must be developed for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks, buses, trains, etc. The Hydrogen Infrastructure department at ZBT focuses on the targeted development and qualification of components and concepts for refuelling stations. One focus is on refuelling protocols.

A tractor unit with hydrogen storage tanks behind the driver’s cab at the HeavyDuty Congress 2023

Gas analysis and gas purification

The quality of hydrogen and its precise determination are essential prerequisites for the use of hydrogen as a raw material for industry, as an energy carrier for energy supply and, in particular, as a fuel for mobility. Based on its many years of experience in trace gas analysis, ZBT has therefore established the Hy-Lab hydrogen quality laboratory.

A view inside a fuel cell laboratory at the ZBT – The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center, where a researcher is operating a test rig

Studies and safety/RCS

Theoretical work and studies cover topics such as hydrogen distribution concepts for connecting industries and mobility, analyses of regional hydrogen sources and sinks for establishing a (regional) hydrogen economy, and systemic, technical technology analyses. In addition, life cycle costing (LCC) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of different technology paths are carried out.

Two scientists are chatting in the laboratory

Contact

Head of Department Hydrogen Infrastructure

Dr.-Ing. Christian Spitta

+49 203 7598-4277

c.spitta@zbt.de

More Contacts

Matz Dietrich

m.dietrich@zbt.de

Gas Analysis

Joachim Jungsbluth

j.jungsbluth@zbt.de

TrHy

Alexander Kvasnicka

a.kvasnicka@zbt.de

Plants and Storage

Examples of our Work

HRS-Model – Free Simulation Model for Calculating Hydrogen Refuelling Systems

Designing hydrogen refuelling systems for reliable and safe operation is a major challenge due to constantly changing requirements and rapid technological development. The HRS-Modell which has now been published, aims to help.

RHeaDHy – Hydrogen refuelling for heavy-duty applications with very high flow rates

Refuelling hydrogen in large quantities quickly – this requirement is becoming more and more common. How does this process work efficiently and safely? What do the components for this have to look like? ZBT is investigating these issues with nine partners as part of a new EU-funded project.

RingWaBe – Validating and Improving Comparability of Hydrogen Purity Measurements

The project RingWaBe aims to improve and secure the comparability of hydrogen quality analysis. To this end, sampling procedures, laboratories, measuring instruments and methods are being investigated.