MEASUREMENT
THE EMITECH GROUP IS EXPANDING ITS ACTIVITIES IN THE FIELD OF ELECTRIC MOBILITY WITH TEST FACILITIES DEDICATED TO HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS AND EQUIPMENTS
The Emitech Group offers a variety and a number of unique test facilities in France, constantly evolving with the aim of supporting its customers’ innovation, in particular in the field of electric mobility.
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he Group already has significant test facilities available in this field. For example there is the EMCEM facility, which aims to characterize an electric vehicle motor from the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) point of view, as well as test benches for high-voltage (HV) batteries, power electronics, calculators etc. It announces new equipment and facilities for tests in the field of hydrogen (fuel cells systems, tanks + valves). The implementation of the hydrogen sector by several stakeholders and regions in France is a strong axis of the energy transition.
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Hydrogen activities: EMC, electrical, mechanical, climatic and fire testing Hydrogen fuel cell testing requires complex facilities that incorporate a large number of constraints. These installations must be secured because hydrogen (H2) is a potentially explosive gas when it reaches a concentration of 4% in the air. Moreover, a power equivalent to 50% of the electrical production of the hydrogen fuel cell system is also dissipated as heat. This is why Emitech, after having selected a hydrogen supplier and installed H2 supply systems, had to fit out its laboratories to secure its installations with H2 sensors and to equip laboratories with dedicated cooling units.
33 | Industry EMEA | May 2022
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The Emitech Group has now two laboratories in France adapted to receive all kinds of equipments, including high power hydrogen fuel cells (45kW testing capabilities now, 100kW in mid-2022). A third laboratory installation more specialized for H2 tank applications testing is also in preparation. The EMC and electrical test laboratory in Chassieu (69) has a 70m² semi-anechoic Faraday cage (H>5m) with facilities dedicated to hydrogen: an H2 supply unit connected to four V18 cylinder racks (4x158m3 of H2 compressed to 200 bars/15°C), hydrogen detection sensors, an ATEX extractor hood for any vapors and a 45kW cooling unit. In the mechanical and climatic test laboratory of ENVIRONNE’TECH in Bourgoin Jallieu (38), the climatic chamber has been completely adapted and secured to receive a complete fuel cell system with a H2 supply unit connected to two V18 racks of cylinders (H2 compressed to 200 bars at 15°C) and detection sensors. The LEFAE mechanical and climatic testing laboratory in Saint-Chamond (42), has a unique expertise in fire testing as well as tank testing capabilities (hydraulic and pneumatic testing: endurance, pressure resistance, bursting, puncture, impact, overloading). It is currently being adapted to become a type IV H2 tank testing center.