The medium-sized special-purpose machine manufacturer Sonplas will present a test bench for alternative fuels such as hydrogen, methanol or ammonia in Hamburg – in a scaled-down version including container infrastructure. This test bench is designed to give customers the opportunity to test their components in a safe environment – for example, with hydrogen. This allows verification of function and service life, ensuring that the products meet requirements and operate safely in later series production. In addition to flow measurement and flow characteristics, dynamic pressure measurements and leakage tests are also offered. Sonplas can expand the test bench modularly if required.
Flexible test bench for electrolysis cells and stacksAnother focus at the trade fair is the collaboration with IAV. Together, the two companies are developing test benches for individual electrolysis cells and stacks. IAV contributes its expertise in the development and operation of electrolysis systems, while Sonplas brings its know-how in special-purpose machine construction. According to the companies, they are already working together on an initial customer project.
The new test bench concept allows for the testing of various technologies – including proton exchange membrane electrolysis (PEM), alkaline electrolysis (AEL), and anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AEM). The system is modular in design and can be adapted to different power levels of the test specimens. The measurement technology can also be configured to be more or less extensive, depending on customer requirements. Sonplas sees potential applications both in research institutions for fundamental development and in industrial settings for pre-series and series development. In Hamburg, the partners will present a scaled-down model of a test bench that customers can configure modularly according to their needs.
In addition to the technical innovations, a new partnership is also planned with the Chinese electrolysis stack manufacturer Zhejiang Filter Technology. With the support of Sonplas, the company aims to place an electrolyzer demonstrator in Germany.
According to the company, the Sonplas booth will be almost twice the size of last year’s. Sonplas can be found at the Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe in Hall B5, booth 5F35.
