Pressure sensors for the hydrogen economy

Processes involving hydrogen must be efficient, safe and loss-free. VEGA sensors for level, switching and pressure ensure that the correct quantities and pressures are used in every hydrogen process step, whether in the electrolyser, storage tank or pipeline.

The compression technology for hydrogen systems developed by the Spanish company Hiperbaric enables compression up to 1,000 bar. This is necessary in order to store green hydrogen or use it in hydrogen refuelling stations – whether at 350 bar for trucks and buses or at 700 bar for vehicles with the latest generation of fuel cells. In the meantime, the Spanish hydrogen pioneer has put around 35 hydrogen plants into operation for various European customers.
The operating conditions of the compressor in the hydrogen process are precisely adapted to the inlet and outlet pressure, which is why reliable pressure measurement is of crucial importance. Pressure monitoring is also important for safety reasons. 

The following sensors are used:

• VEGABAR 83, a sensor that impresses users with its dry, strain-gauge measuring cell for long-term stable measurement at high process pressures of up to 1,000 bar.
• VEGABAR 82, with its oil-free ceramic CERTEC® measuring cell, can even withstand aggressive media such as caustic potash solution and has a high 200-times overload capacity. The ceramic measuring cell is also temperature-shock resistant and can withstand temperatures of up to 150 °C.

Installation of the sensors is convenient and simple, thanks to their extremely small process fittings. The sensors have now been in use at Hiperbaric for a year and can be found at the hydrogen inlet and outlet of every compressor group.

The dynamism of the hydrogen market is reflected in Hiperbaric’s day-to-day operations. The company has doubled its business with hydrogen compressors in Europe and, by 2025, wants to hit the ground running in the USA, where it already has a strong market position in high-pressure technologies for the food sector. Despite all the dynamics of the market, the company has not lost sight of safety and economic efficiency. VEGA supports the equipment manufacturer and ensures that its processes run efficiently, safely and, above all, without hydrogen losses.