06. May 2024

Project presentation: h2-well-compact

Category News

h2-well-compact: Presentation of the mobile hydrogen compressor and storage solution in Apolda

Hydrogen innovation from Thuringia: Together with the research partners in the h2-well-compact joint project, MAXIMATOR GmbH from Nordhausen presented an innovative mobile storage and compression solution for decentralized applications in Apolda on 26th April.

The h2-well-compact project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The aim of the project is to develop a compact and flexible hydrogen supply system for decentralized applications. Green hydrogen is to be produced at a small hydropower plant in Apolda using a PEM electrolyzer. An innovative mobile storage and compression solution was developed to deliver the hydrogen to consumers in the region.

The planned trailer system will enable the flexible and efficient delivery of various hydrogen applications, both in the industrial and mobility sectors. Among other things, this trailer will be used to supply a newly developed compact hydrogen filling station in Apolda. A hydrogen storage cascade at the SAE-compliant compact filling station enables the refueling of fuel cell vehicles based on the overflow principle. This eliminates the need for additional compression of the hydrogen during the refueling process and reduces the costs of installing and operating the hydrogen filling station.

With its many years of expertise as a manufacturer of hydrogen compressors and high-pressure hydrogen technology, Maximator was able to optimally complement the project team comprising Bauhaus University Weimar, Energieversorgung Apolda GmbH, Fraunhofer IKTS Hermsdorf, Höschel & Baumann Elektro GmbH, Imaginata e.V., IMG Electronic & Power Systems GmbH, Kyros Hydrogen Solutions GmbH, and Rießner-Gase GmbH.

A latest-generation electric hydraulic compressor (EHB) from Maximator was used in the mobile compressor station assembly. Markus Wedemeyer, project manager at Maximator: "The use of an energy-efficient and small 1-stage compressor is currently the benchmark in the field of hydrogen compressor technology for mobile decentralized applications." In addition, a platform-related periphery was planned, which takes over the supply of the compressor and the hydrogen interconnection and control. The hydrogen filling system consists of a gas storage system (bundle storage 3,600 liters), an electrical and fluidic control system and a hydrogen dispenser for forklift refueling. The entire project planning, implementation, installation, commissioning and handover was carried out by Maximator.

An electrolyser from Kyros was used to generate green hydrogen using energy from a hydroelectric power plant (on the River Ilm). The Fraunhofer IKTS in Hermsdorf is responsible for water and hydrogen treatment. The produced hydrogen is stored at up to 100 bar in 18 cylinder bundles supplied by Riessner. A trailer from Riesner and the mobile compressor system from Maximator take over the hydrogen at the hydropower plant and compress it on site to a pressure level of 300 bar in the six trailer storage bundles. After the journey to the Apolda brewery, the hydrogen is transferred from the trailer to Maximator's filling system and recompressed. After successful transfer, a 2.5-ton hydrogen forklift truck can be operated green and self-sufficiently for approx. 2 working weeks. Afterwards, the trailer must be refilled using a mobile compressor system.