Functional safety, Industrial Security and explosion protection for the hydrogen industry

Hydrogen (H2) is considered the energy source of the future. It will play a key role in the transition to a sustainable power supply. Pilz is contributing to this transition by optimising the generation of green hydrogen from renewable energy sources such as wind power or photovoltaics as well as the safe distribution to users. Our focus on functional safety and automation ensures a green and safe future.

Hydrogen H2 – Safe and Secure

Image photo hydrogen H2

Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas. For safe production, handling and use, you need safety systems to reliably prevent and manage hazardous situations when dealing with hydrogen.

Pilz offers a variety of solutions for controlling and monitoring safety functions

Visit us at Hydrogen Technology European Expo!

Pilz can provide support with your challenges

Our safety solutions for functional safety:

  • Safe small controller PNOZmulti 2 controls and monitors the required safety functions  
  • Automation system PSS 4000 is used on large plants and depending on the number of inputs and outputs required
  • PNOZmulti 2 and PSS 4000 are certified up to SIL 3 of EN IEC 61511 and satisfy the requirement of EN IEC 61508

Our safety solutions for Industrial Security:

With the increasing digital networking of plants and systems in hydrogen production, storage and hydrogen applications in industry, the topic of Industrial Security must absolutely be taken into consideration in order to protect sensitive plant data. Here too, Pilz offers tried and tested solutions for dealing with threats.

  • I.A.M. (Identification and Access Management) provides support from user authentication to operating mode selection, or data and network security to access management.
  • Industrial firewall SecurityBridge protects the control network from manipulation through unauthorised access. The online connection is established via a VPN connection with role-based user management (developed in accordance with IEC 62443)

Your benefits at a glance:

  • Control and monitor all safety-related functions
  • Monitoring of safety functions such as pressure, temperature, current, voltage and leak, gas and flame detection
  • Certified hardware: PNOZmulti 2 and PSS 4000 certified up to SIL 3 of EN IEC 61511; satisfy the requirement of EN IEC 61508
  • Intuitive software tool: Configurable function blocks – no programming skills required
  • High productivity through integrated diagnostics and comprehensive visualisation options

Risks when handling hydrogen – Safe prevention and management

Leakage

Leak pictogram

Due to its small molecular size, low molecular weight, high diffusibility and low viscosity, hydrogen is hard to contain and can easily escape. Hydrogen leaks pose a serious risk of fire or even explosion. Hydrogen fires are invisible and it should always be assumed that a flame is present.

Fire / ignition

Fire pictogram

Hydrogen is highly flammable and naturally explosive. It ignites and burns much easier than other fuels, and as one of the lightest elements on earth, it spreads upwards very quickly. Hydrogen flames are invisible, which makes it difficult to localise the fire source. Even technical precautions such as thermal sensors reach their limits here.

Injury through contact

Injury pictogram

Because hydrogen is normally stored and transported in a compressed state in pressurised hydrogen tanks, it is extremely cold. If hydrogen escapes in this state and makes contact with skin or if the icy vapour of the liquid hydrogen is inhaled, this can lead to burns, frostbite, hypothermia and lung damage.
 

Functional safety and Industrial Security in hydrogen applications

Further information

Headoffice

Pilz GmbH & Co. KG
Felix-Wankel-Straße 2
73760 Ostfildern
Germany

Telephone: +49 711 3409-0
E-Mail: info@pilz.de

Technical Support

Telephone: +49 711 3409 444
E-Mail: support@pilz.com

Americas

  • Brazil: + 55 11 4942-7032
  • Canada: +1 888-315-PILZ (315-7459)
  • United States (toll-free): +1 877-PILZUSA (745-9872)
  • Mexico: +52 55 5572 1300

Europe

  • Finland: +358 10 3224030 / +45 74436332
  • Ireland: +353 21 4804983
  • Switzerland: +41 62 889 79 32
  • Spain: +34 938497433
  • United Kingdom: +44 1536 460866
  • Belgium: +32 9 321 75 70
  • Austria: +43 1 7986263-444
  • Turkey: +90 216 577 55 52
  • Netherlands: +31 347 320477
  • Russia: +7 495 6654993
  • Italy: +39 0362 1826711
  • Sweden: +46 300 13990 / +45 74436332
  • France (toll-free): +33 3 88104000
  • Germany: +49 711 3409 444
  • Denmark: +45 74436332
  • Portugal: +351 229 407 594

Asia Pacific

  • Australia (toll-free): +61 3 9560 0621 / 1300 723 334
  • China: +86 400-088-3566
  • Japan: +81 45 471 2281
  • Taiwan: +886 2 25700068
  • South Korea: +82 31 778 3390
  • Thailand: +66 210 54613
  • New Zealand: +64 9 6345350
  • Singapore: +65 6829 2920