Fraunhofer IWU completes Reference Factory H2

Cost-effective series production of electrolysers and fuel cells targeted: Fraunhofer IWU has completed its reference factory, H2.

The Referenzfabrik.H2 is located in the Fraunhofer IWUZ's “research factory.” Following the completion of the hydrogen projects H2GO (fuel cells, especially for freight mobility) and FRHY (electrolyzer production), all components of the Referenzfabrik.H2 are now available. The Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology intends to use it to demonstrate reference scenarios for the efficient, scalable production of hydrogen systems along the entire value chain. For greater efficiency, processes and systems have been designed according to the roll-to-roll principle in conjunction with continuous production.

For example, in the production of bipolar plates for fuel cells with “BPPflexROLL” and “flexROLLmax,” hollow embossing rolling is to be used primarily as a continuous process. Electron beam welding is intended to make the joining of bipolar plates higher quality, faster, and more cost-effective. When assembling fuel cells and electrolyzers, a novel stacking concept will enable high-speed assembly of individual components without parallelization or picking. In addition, the Reference Factory H2 has test benches for electrolyzer and fuel individual cells and systems.

This is a partly automated translation of this german article.