The Emitech group expands its electric mobility

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.

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.

Testing: a first complete 45kVA fuel cell system

Emitech is currently working with one of the leaders in Fuel Cell System in France and Europe on a project for utility vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
The equipment supplier provides the manufacturer with the electrical energy, a fuel cell, for integration into a conventional electric vehicle architecture. It is a complete and complex system that includes cooling system as well as regulators for humidity, air compression, etc. In addition, the fuel cell is completed by a high-voltage battery for transient power requirements such as acceleration and for energy recovery storage, especially during braking.

The system is tested in EMC, climatic and mechanical domain in Emitech laboratories according to the automotive manufacturer's specifications involved in this project. Emitech is the only one French laboratoy to offer these campaigns and the qualification of the system regarding environmental parameters.

Emitech was able to adapt its laboratories in a few months to meet its customer's needs regarding hydrogen and to conduct these tests. Testing began in autumn 2020 for mechanical and climatic, and then in January 2021 for EMC. Other campaigns are planned and international customers have already expressed their interest for these installations. In order to support the sector's development and the increase in the power of the various equipment manufacturers' fuel cell building blocks, laboratory upgrades are already planned for 2022 to enable tests performance on 100kW FCS (Fuel Cell System).


An expansion of the developing skills 

Emitech has become a member of two major networks in France in the field of hydrogen. Emitech has been a member of FRANCE HYDROGENE since january 2021, an association federating the actors (more than 400) of hydrogen and fuel cells in France. EMITECH also belongs to the general H2 circle within the NEOPOLIA network, which brings together more than 250 companies mainly from the French region Pays de la Loire.

At the same time, Emitech actively monitors standards and technical normative working group in order to keep on developping its facilities and adapt them to the customers' future needs while meeting test standards requirements. This is the case, for example, for the use of hydrogen in ports, whether for recreational boating or for the merchant marine in the long term, but also for automotive or aeronautics and its green aircraft.

Emitech is also referenced as H2 testing laboratory in the "Guide for conformity assessment and certification of hydrogen systems", a reference synthesis document on the subject published in July 2021 by INERIS (National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks) on behalf of ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) and FRANCE HYDROGENE.

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