• Standardization roadmap for hydrogen technologies

Working Committee 3 - Application

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The working committee is responsible for researching standards and analyzing the need for standards for hydrogen technologies and their industrial and domestic applications. The technologies include fuel cells and power supply with power plants and combined heat and power plants as well as turbines. Industrial applications include mobility applications on road, rail, water and in the air as well as special vehicles including the respective refueling systems. It also includes the use and processing of hydrogen in the chemical industry, including the petrochemical industry, power-to-X plants, thermal processing plants and for use in reduction processes such as in the steel industry. Energy/heat supply in the domestic and commercial sectors and the necessary control technology are also considered.

WC 3 Application includes the following SWCs and WGs:

SWC 3.1 - Power Supply and Reversible Fuel Cell

  • WG 3.1.1 - Fuel cells
  • WG 3.1.2 - Power plants, turbines, CHP plants

SWC 3.2 - Industry

  • WG 3.2.1 - (Petro)chem. industry
  • WG 3.2.2 - PtX
  • WG 3.2.3 - Thermoprocessing equiment
  • WG 3.2.4 - Reduction processes

SWC 3.3 - Heat

  • WG 3.3.1 - Domestic applications
  • WG 3.3.2 - Controls
  • WG 3.3.3 - Commercial applications

SWC 3.4 - Mobility

  • WG 3.4.1 - Filling installations
  • WG 3.4.2 - Road vehicles
  • WG 3.4.3 - Railway vehicles
  • WG 3.4.4 - Shipping
  • WG 3.4.5 - Aviation
  • WG 3.4.6 - Special vehicles

Working committee 3 – Application

Sub-working committee 3.1 - Power generation and reversible fuel cells Show

Tasks of the working group 3.1.1 – Fuel Cells
The work spectrum of the fuel cell working group covers all types of fuel cell technologies and their possible applications, such as, but not limited to, stationary fuel cell energy systems for the provision of electrical and, if applicable, thermal power, fuel cell energy systems for supplying energy to drive systems, portable fuel cell energy systems as auxiliary power units, and reversible fuel cell energy systems for electrical load shifting. The focus of the fuel cell working group's activities is on the existing portfolio of standards about fuel cells, to determine the extent to which this needs to be further developed to improve the integration of this technology into the existing infrastructure or to align it with the overall system.

Tasks of the working group 3.1.2 – Power plants, turbines, cogeneration plants
The focus of this working group is on thermal power plants or partial plants incl. turbines and CHP plants (power plants). This includes all main and auxiliary systems necessary for functionality and safety of production and their elements incl. construction materials, among other boilers, pressure vessels, piping, valves, safety fittings, apparatus, machines, package plants and special machines within the plant boundary defined by the technology owner or operator, which is at the same time the interface to other structures, plants, installations and to the infrastructure. Considering the applicable directives, regulations and harmonized standards, all phases are considered in detail, from the initial study, through planning, procurement, manufacturing and execution of plant construction, including commissioning, to operation, maintenance and dismantling. This applies both to new construction and to the modernization of machines and plants.

Sub-working committe 3.2 – Industry Show

Tasks of the working group 3.2.1 – (Petro)chem. Industry
This working group is focusing on (petro)chemical plants or subplants. This includes all main and auxiliary systems necessary for functionality and safety of production and their elements including construction materials, among others pressure vessels, piping, valves, safety fittings, as well as furnaces, boilers, apparatus, columns, machinery, package plants and special machinery within the plant boundary defined by the technology owner or operator, which is at the same time the interface to other structures, plants, installations and to the infrastructure. Considering the applicable directives, regulations and harmonized standards, all phases are considered in detail, from the initial study, through planning, procurement, manufacturing and execution of plant construction, including commissioning, to operation, maintenance and dismantling. This applies both to new construction and to the modernization of machines and plants.

Tasks of the working group 3.2.2 – PtX
The "Power-to-X" working group is concerned with the standardization of power-to-X plants. Power-to-X (PtX) refers to the conversion of electrical energy into an energy carrier (gaseous or liquid), into heat or into a product (raw material, basic material). In addition to the various power-to-X paths, the systemic aspects of power-to-X plants are also considered.

Tasks of the working group 3.2.3 – Thermoprocessing equipment 
The focus of this working group is on thermoprocess plants or subplants. This includes all main and auxiliary systems necessary for functionality and safety of production and their elements including construction materials, among other furnaces, pipelines, boilers, apparatuses, machines, package plants and special machines within the plant boundary defined by the technology owner or operator, which is at the same time the interface to other structures, plants, installations and to the infrastructure. Taking into account the applicable directives, regulations and harmonized standards, all phases are considered in detail, from the initial study, through planning, procurement, manufacturing and execution of plant construction, including commissioning, to operation, maintenance and dismantling. This applies both to new construction and to the modernization of machines and plants.

Tasks of the working group 3.2.4 – Reduction processes
This working group is focusing on reduction processes. This includes all main and auxiliary systems necessary for functionality and safety of production and their elements including construction materials, among other furnaces, pipelines, boilers, apparatuses, machines, package plants and special machines within the plant boundary defined by the technology carrier or operator, which is at the same time the interface to other structures, plants, installations and to the infrastructure. Considering the applicable directives, regulations and harmonized standards, all phases are considered in detail, from the initial study, through planning, procurement, manufacturing and execution of plant construction, including commissioning, to operation, maintenance and dismantling. This applies both to new construction and to the modernization of machines and plants.

Sub-working committee 3.3 – Heat Show

Tasks of the working group 3.3.1 – Domestic applications
The working group is concerned with the existence and need for technical regulations and standards for the distribution and use of hydrogen in the domestic sector, where hydrogen is used as an energy gas or fuel. This includes among others:

  • Product standards for appliances for heating, cooking, or power generation
  • Associated material and component standards
  • Application rules for installation of piping systems and installation of appliances as well as requirements for combustion air supply and exhaust gas discharge in domestic areas
  • Qualification requirements for specialists/experts and experts in the field of domestic application

Tasks of the working group 3.3.2 – Controls
The Controls working group is responsible for identifying standardization needs regarding safety, design and functional requirements as well as tests for regulating and control devices of heat-generating equipment and systems using hydrogen. This mainly includes the following regulating and control devices, including their applications:

  • Automatic shut-off valves for gas burners and gas appliances and gas supply;
  • Automatic blow-off valves;
  • Pressure regulators for gas burners and gas appliances;
  • Thermoelectric ignition fuses;
  • Pneumatic gas-air ratio regulators for gas burners and gas appliances;
  • Manually operated adjusters for gas appliances;
  • Mechanical temperature regulators for gas appliances;
  • Multiple regulators for gas appliances
  • Compound fuel-air regulators, electronic type;
  • Pressure switches;
  • Electric ignition devices;
  • Automatic burner control systems;
  • Sensors for the detection of gaseous combustion products;
  • Temperature control devices and temperature limiters;
  • Valve monitoring systems for automatic shut-off valves.

Tasks of the working group 3.3.3 – Commercial applications
The "Commercial applications" working group deals with the application of hydrogen-powered equipment and products in the commercial sector (according to GAR). This includes applications such as butchery and smokehouse equipment, catering equipment, drying and laundry equipment. Equipment for air conditioning, for example radiant heaters, is also covered by this WG. Since operating pressures of up to 100 mbar are often used in the commercial context, there are overlaps with domestic gas applications.

Sub-working committee 3.4 – Mobility Show

Tasks of the working group 3.4.1 – Filling installations
The filling equipment working group is responsible for identifying standardization needs regarding the (safety-related) requirements for the construction and/or operation of filling equipment, suitable connection devices (interfaces), overfill protection devices and refuelling protocols for use with hydrogen (cryogenic liquefied & gaseous).

Tasks of the working group 3.4.2 – Road vehicles
The scope of the working group includes the development of the hydrogen standardization roadmap in the field of road vehicles. This includes both passenger cars and trucks on public roads and does not include special and special-purpose vehicles. All uses of hydrogen as an energy carrier for propulsion are and corresponding requirements for specific components for use are considered.

Excluded are specifications for tanks and containers used to transport hydrogen. The interfaces to the corresponding working groups are of particular importance.

Tasks of the working group 3.4.3 – Railway vehicles
Various standardization topics have already been identified in various standardization committees. Among other things, safety-related issues such as the evaluation of hydrogen pressure vessels or the guarantee of efficient and safe system interfaces have been discussed.

These and all other relevant topics are now to be consolidated within the framework of the standardization roadmap for hydrogen technologies.

Accordingly, the Railway vehicles working group has the task of identifying all standardization requirements as well as existing standardization inventories for the systems of mainline railroads and urban railroads (this includes the rail networks, rolling stock and operation), regarding hydrogen technologies.

Tasks of the working group 3.4.4 – Shipping
The working group's remit includes the development of the hydrogen standardization roadmap in the field of marine and maritime technology. This includes all areas of application for hydrogen associated with marine and maritime technology, including its transport by ship, use for propulsion and refuelling. The interfaces to the corresponding working groups are of particular importance here.

Tasks of the working group 3.4.5 – Aviation 
The Aviation WG is responsible for identifying standardization needs in the field of aviation. It deals with the handling and application of hydrogen as an energy carrier and the resulting requirements about transport, storage and refuelling.

Tasks of the working group 3.4.6 – Special vehicles 
In the future, hydrogen is not only to be used in the usual means of transport, but also in special and customized vehicles such as mining vehicles and industrial trucks. Typically, these vehicles are subject to special conditions due to their area of application. For example, they are used in airports, warehouses, open-cast mines, underground mining, tunnelling, other construction sites and in the agricultural sector. The special vehicles working group is addressing the question of how the use of hydrogen in special vehicles can be made safe and reliable by means of norms and standards, and what changes to the existing portfolio of norms are necessary for this. To this end, the various technologies (fuel cell, internal combustion engine) and framework conditions can be described, and standards can be aligned accordingly.

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