Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH: Hydrogen Testing with Hollow Specimen Method from ZwickRoell
Case Study
- Customer: Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH
- Location: Geesthacht, Germany
- Industry: Research Institute & Academia
- Topic: Hydrogen testing with hollow specimens: the possibility of investigating hydrogen embrittlement caused by gaseous hydrogen under pressure with little testing effort.
November 2024
Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH was looking for a testing solution for hydrogen embrittlement with low testing costs. The company found what they were looking for at ZwickRoell with the hollow specimen test and are therefore able to make a decisive contribution to the development of new shell materials for hydrogen storage systems.
Helmholtz-Zentrum hereon GmbH
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon conducts cutting-edge international research for a world in transition. The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is one of the 18 centers of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. Approximately 1,000 employees contribute to increasing knowledge and innovations for greater resilience and sustainability. Hereon's scientific spectrum includes high-performance materials, processes and environmentally friendly technologies for mobility and new energy systems. Biomaterials are also being researched for medical applications and to improve quality of life. Hereon meets the challenges of climate change with the help of research and consulting.
The task
Simpler tests for hydrogen embrittlement
Hydrogen plays a central role in the transition to a CO2-neutral economy. In the future, large quantities of hydrogen will be imported and transported within Germany from producers to customers. Metallic materials are mainly used for production, distribution via pipelines and pressure vessels for storage. However, not all materials are sufficiently resistant to hydrogen.
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon needed a test setup with which the resistance of metallic materials to hydrogen embrittlement caused by gaseous hydrogen under pressure can be investigated. The leading high-tech solution involves testing in an autoclave. The hollow specimen testing solution supplied by ZwickRoell is a much more economical and faster to implement alternative. ZwickRoell also provided expert support with the pressurized hydrogen handling concept.
The ZwickRoell solution
Testing in a compressed hydrogen environment with the use of the hollow specimen technology
Based on the requirements described, it quickly became clear that ZwickRoell's hollow specimen technology was the right solution for an existing testing machine. The low investment and testing costs, reduced safety measures and simple operation present the key advantages of this method for testing metallic hollow samples under pressurized hydrogen. This alternative method to autoclave technology is perfect for detecting the influence of hydrogen embrittlement. The development of the method incorporates the results of initiatives and projects related to hydrogen, in which ZwickRoell is also involved.
“ZwickRoell's solution enables us to enter a new field of materials research. The results will make a significant contribution to the development of new shell materials for hydrogen storage systems and thus accelerate the energy transition. "
Anton Odermatt - Laser Processing and Structural Assessment, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon
The result
Simpler operation and low safety requirements
The hollow specimen technique provided by ZwickRoell is the perfect alternative to the very complex autoclave test method. The safety requirements are also lower, as the test can be carried out with much smaller quantities of hydrogen. The department of Laser Material Processing and Structural Assessment at the Institute for Material Mechanics has successfully commissioned such a testing system for testing metallic hollow specimens under hydrogen pressure from ZwickRoell. The test method is being used in a joint project with the Department of System Design for Mobile Storage Systems at the Institute of Hydrogen Technology to develop new types of metal hydride storage systems.
