Electrolysis module cluster with integrated control interfaces

Abstract

An electrolysis module cluster (100) is proposed comprising a first electrolysis module (140) and a second electrolysis module (140), each electrolysis module (140) having: an electrolysis stack system, with a variety of actuators and a variety of sensors; a power electronics unit coupled to the electrolysis stack system for the provision of electrical energy; and a control interface (120) for providing a respective operating mode of a plurality of operating modes for the respective electrolysis module (140) of the electrolysis module cluster (100); and / or for providing a respective electrolysis production quantity request for the respective electrolysis module (140) of the electrolysis module cluster (100); and a control and regulation electronics (130) which is each signal-coupled with the plurality of actuators and sensors and the power electronics and the control interface (120); and wherein the control electronics (130) are set up, based on signals from the respective multitude of sensors of the electrolysis stack system; and based on the electrolysis production quantity requirement provided for each electrolysis module (140); and based on the operating mode provided for the respective electrolysis module (140), the respective electrolysis stack system can be operated autonomously by means of the actuators and the power electronics.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The number and size of announced water electrolysis projects for the production of "green" hydrogen have recently increased sharply. Current solutions for electrolysis plants focus on two concepts: container solutions, in which the entire electrolysis plant is housed in one or a few containers. Medium and large electrolysis plants with a power consumption of 1 MW to several GW, which are designed from individual components or constructed from prefabricated modules, are also available. Disclosure of the invention

[0002] The requirements for medium-sized and large electrolysis plants include high overall efficiency and high plant reliability with robust and long-term operation and low maintenance times. Dynamic operation, easy replacement of defective components, and simple integration of new components to increase plant capacity are also required. This involves preserving the wear and tear on cost-intensive components, such as electrolysis stacks, during operation. Meeting these requirements is difficult with current control concepts for large-scale plants.

[0003] For example, if all system components are centrally controlled, malfunctions in one part of the system can also cause downtime for other parts of the system that would otherwise be operational. Furthermore, such central control requires a complex software architecture.

[0004] According to aspects of the invention, an electrolysis module cluster and a multi-electrolysis module cluster are proposed according to the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0005] According to one aspect, an electrolysis module cluster comprising a first electrolysis module and a second electrolysis module is proposed. Each electrolysis module comprises an electrolysis stack system, power electronics, a control interface, and control and regulation electronics.

[0006] The electrolysis stack system comprises a plurality of actuators and a plurality of sensors, and in particular an electrolysis stack. The power electronics are coupled to the electrolysis stack system for providing electrical energy. The control interface is configured and set up to provide a respective operating mode of a plurality of operating modes for the respective electrolysis module 140 of the electrolysis module cluster. Alternatively or additionally, the control interface is configured and set up to provide a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement for the respective electrolysis module 140 of the electrolysis module cluster.The control and regulation electronics, which are each signal-coupled to the plurality of actuators and sensors and to the power electronics and the control interface 120, are set up and configured to operate the respective electrolysis stack system in a control-autonomous manner by means of the actuators and the power electronics, based on signals from the respective plurality of sensors of the electrolysis stack system and based on the electrolysis production quantity requirement provided for the respective electrolysis module and based on the operating mode provided for the respective electrolysis module.

[0007] Alternatively or additionally, the respective electrolysis module may have a functionality of the control interface instead of the control interface, wherein the functionality of the control interface has a functionality that fully corresponds to the functionality of the control interface described here.

[0008] The control interface or the functionality of the control interface can be configured to be signal-coupled to the respective control and regulation electronics of the first electrolysis module and / or the second electrolysis module in order to provide the respective operating mode and / or the electrolysis production quantity requirement for the control-autonomous operation of the respective electrolysis module to the respective control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis modules.

[0009] The control interface of a respective electrolysis module can be configured and set up to have an inactive status if the control interface of another electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster has an active status.

[0010] The electrolysis stack system can comprise an electrolysis stack, a plurality of actuators, and a plurality of sensors. The power electronics can be configured to be coupled to a power supply network, in particular by means of a transformer. The respective electrolysis module can be configured to operate with a plurality of operating modes, which can in particular be selected.

[0011] Using the electrolysis module cluster, for example, a medium or large electrolysis plant can be constructed by coupling a plurality of electrolysis modules, each of which has hardware and software-compatible and / or identical interfaces and / or signal interfaces, in order to be connected to form a cluster of self-contained electrolysis modules. Based on the compatible interfaces and / or signal interfaces, the cluster can be controlled as a unit using one of the control interfaces of the respective electrolysis modules in order to produce an electrolysis production quantity required, in particular provided by a central control system.The control interface can provide the respective electrolysis modules of the electrolysis module cluster with different operating modes for operation of the respective electrolysis modules in order to be able to optimize the operation of the cluster with regard to operating parameters, such as service life and / or production quantity, and based on specifications of the respective electrolysis module and / or an operating history of the respective electrolysis module.

[0012] The individual electrolysis modules can have a uniform power consumption, for example, 2.5 MW. Alternatively or additionally, electrolysis modules with different power capacities can be combined to form the cluster using compatible and / or identical interfaces. The power capacity of the individual electrolysis module can be selected independently of the power capacity of the electrolysis module cluster, thereby enabling optimization of the performance of the respective electrolysis module within the electrolysis module cluster. The respective electrolysis modules of the cluster can be connected to a common water supply. Using such an electrolysis module cluster, a higher power consumption and / or greater hydrogen production can be achieved.

[0013] Advantageously, the modular design with a multitude of independently operated electrolysis modules with compatible interfaces and / or signal interfaces allows an electrolysis module cluster to be flexibly scaled for different total electrolysis production volume requirements. The respective electrolysis module can be externally encapsulated by means of the respective control and regulation electronics of the corresponding electrolysis module with regard to the electrolysis module functions. This allows for a simple connection of new and / or replaced electrolysis modules to the electrolysis module cluster and thus to an overall system corresponding to the electrolysis module cluster and / or a multi-electrolysis module cluster. Furthermore, due to the independently operated operation of the respective electrolysis modules, each individual electrolysis module can be operated independently of one another, particularly if there is sufficient hardware-related limitation, e.g.through shared water circuits. In addition, due to the autonomous operation of the respective electrolysis modules, the control interface can be set up and configured so that in the event of a malfunction or maintenance of one electrolysis module, the other electrolysis modules in the electrolysis module cluster continue to operate.

[0014] The respective control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis module can be set up and configured to have the necessary hardware-specific information on components, such as the sensors and / or actuators of the respective electrolysis module, for a control-autonomous operation and to control and / or regulate the respective electrolysis module for operation according to the hardware-specific information.

[0015] This means the control interface does not require any hardware-specific information from the respective electrolysis modules in the electrolysis module cluster. This results in a simpler and more problem-resistant structure for the control interface software.

[0016] Because each electrolysis module operates independently of its own control system, the individual electrolysis modules can be fully assembled during production and individually tested prior to delivery. This can simplify the construction of a new electrolysis cluster and / or the expansion of the electrolysis cluster. Constructing an electrolysis module cluster from individual electrolysis modules can simplify and / or reduce the training effort for operating or maintenance personnel.

[0017] The control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis module can be configured to control and / or regulate all electrolysis module-related functions. This control and regulation electronics can be configured to be signal-coupled to the control interface corresponding to a higher-level controller, corresponding to a secondary control (slave). The higher-level controller can be configured to control and / or regulate the electrolysis module cluster corresponding to a primary control (master).

[0018] In other words, the control and regulation electronics can be configured to encapsulate the respective electrolysis module with respect to its module functions in such a way that the respective electrolysis module can be operated independently of the control system. For this independent operation, a respective target operating mode and a total electrolysis production quantity requirement for the entire electrolysis module cluster can be provided to at least one control interface of the electrolysis module cluster.

[0019] Furthermore, the control and regulation electronics can be set up to exchange operating parameters, safety-relevant messages, warnings, messages and operating statuses, in particular with the control interface and / or with a central control system, for example by means of a respective signal interface.

[0020] The control and regulation electronics can be configured to carry out both safety control of the electrolysis module and control of the electrolysis module.

[0021] For this purpose, the control and regulation electronics can be signal-coupled to the sensors and actuators of the electrolysis module, in particular to regulate and / or control the sensors and actuators of the electrolysis stack system of the respective electrolysis module and / or the power electronics of the respective electrolysis module. Furthermore, the control and regulation electronics can be configured to store and / or process hardware-specific data from components of the electrolysis module, such as component drivers, calibration values, configurations, model and serial numbers, and / or licenses.

[0022] Advantageously, the control and regulation electronics can be configured to store historical data of the electrolysis module and / or the electrolysis stack system and / or components of the electrolysis module and / or sensors and / or actuators of the electrolysis module and / or the electrolysis stack system and / or the power electronics in order to control and / or regulate the respective electrolysis module with regard to the respective operating mode and / or a respective current electrolysis production quantity performance and / or a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement, in particular depending on these stored historical data.

[0023] Advantageously, based on the autonomous operation of the respective electrolysis module and the respective control and regulation electronics, the control and regulation electronics can be configured, initialized, and / or tested in production. This can result in faster commissioning at the electrolysis cluster's operating site.

[0024] Advantageously, the modular design of the electrolysis module cluster allows each individual electrolysis module, including the control and regulation electronics, to be tested prior to delivery. Furthermore, the modular design greatly simplifies the replacement of individual electrolysis modules and / or the integration of additional and / or new electrolysis modules.

[0025] The respective control interface of the respective electrolysis module can be set up and configured, corresponding to a primary control, to control and / or regulate the other electrolysis modules of the electrolysis module cluster. For this purpose, the respective control interface can be signal-coupled to the other control interfaces and / or the plurality of electrolysis modules and / or the plurality of actuators and / or the plurality of sensors, both for control and / or regulation and for communication. Thus, the control interface can be set up and configured to coordinate the production of the respective electrolysis modules for electrolysis production. As a result, a simple and flexible interface for controlling the electrolysis module cluster can be provided by means of the control interface of the respective electrolysis modules set up in this way.In addition, the individual electrolysis modules can be operated flexibly and independently of one another, and operation and / or production can be optimally coordinated.

[0026] Advantageously, the respective control interfaces and the respective control and regulation electronics can be installed in the production facility into a respective electrolysis module or a sub-segment of an electrolysis module. The application software can be installed there and the control system tested.

[0027] When integrated into a complete electrolysis module, the connection to all hardware components of the module can also be created and initialized. When integrated into a sub-segment of a module, the signal inputs to the controller can be simulated using a suitable test system and thus tested as needed.

[0028] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective control interface be configured and set up to be signal-coupled to a central controller for providing a total electrolysis production quantity requirement and a target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster. Additionally, the respective control interface can be configured and set up to compare the provided total electrolysis production quantity requirement of the entire electrolysis module cluster with a sum of a respective current electrolysis production quantity capacity of the respective electrolysis modules of the electrolysis module cluster.Furthermore, the respective control interface can be configured and set up to provide the respective control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis module with a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement corresponding to the total electrolysis production quantity requirement for operation of the respective electrolysis module.

[0029] The control and regulation electronics can be configured to provide this provision of the respective electrolysis product quantity requirement with a respective operating mode for the operation of the respective electrolysis module with a quantitatively sufficient summed electrolysis production quantity capacity to the respective electrolysis modules for operation, and thus in particular to control the respective electrolysis module such that the respective electrolysis module produces the respective electrolysis production quantity and / or consumes a corresponding electrical power.

[0030] The control and regulation electronics can be configured to compare an operating mode achievable by the respective electrolysis module with the operating mode provided by the control interface and to provide the result of the comparison to the control interface. The control and regulation electronics can be configured to operate the respective electrolysis module with the operating mode provided by the control interface only if the provided operating mode is achievable for the respective electrolysis module.

[0031] In particular, the respective control interface can be set up and configured to adjust the current electrolysis production capacity of the electrolysis modules for the target operating mode of the electrolysis module cluster. This means that, in a first step, an operating mode corresponding to the target operating mode can be assumed from an electrolysis production capacity for the operating mode of the respective electrolysis module using the control interface set up in this way. If the electrolysis production capacity of the respective electrolysis module is insufficient in the target operating mode, a different operating mode of the respective control and regulation electronics can be provided using the control interface set up in this way in order to meet the overall electrolysis production capacity requirement using the plurality of electrolysis modules.

[0032] The control interface of the electrolysis module cluster can be configured and set up to be signal-coupled to the central controller in order to transmit and / or receive operating parameters such as setpoint and actual values ​​for operating modes, a hydrogen production quantity or a total electrolysis production quantity requirement, water temperatures of a cooling circuit for the respective electrolysis stack system, and / or fluid volume flows of the respective electrolysis modules. In addition, the control interface can be set up and configured to transmit and / or receive and / or provide safety-relevant messages, for example, when the safety control of an electrolysis module is triggered. Furthermore, the control interface can be set up and configured to transmit and / or receive and / or provide warnings, messages, and / or operating statuses.

[0033] For operational control of the electrolysis module cluster, the control interface can be set up and configured to coordinate and / or assign operating modes of the individual electrolysis modules. This coordination and / or assignment can include distributing the respective electrolysis production quantity requirements to the respective electrolysis modules, corresponding to a requested hydrogen production quantity, to the electrolysis modules and / or calculating operating values ​​for controlling the electrolysis system, for example, required total fluid volume flows for an electrolysis module cluster and / or assigning target operating parameters to the control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis modules, for example, respective operating modes and respective electrolysis production quantities, corresponding to a hydrogen production quantity.

[0034] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the control interface is set up and configured to distribute a total electrolysis production quantity requirement, corresponding to a requested hydrogen production quantity, to the respective electrolysis modules depending on a current respective electrolysis production quantity performance of the respective electrolysis modules and / or depending on other criteria, such as minimizing the aging of an electrolysis stack of the electrolysis stack system and / or maximizing the electrolysis production quantity, corresponding, for example, to hydrogen production and / or maximizing system efficiency. For example, to fulfill the respective criterion, some of a plurality of electrolysis modules of the electrolysis module cluster can be controlled in a non-productive state in order to control the remaining electrolysis modules as closely as possible to the criteria.Alternatively, to meet another criterion, all electrolysis modules can be operated with a low electrolysis production requirement. Alternatively, some of the electrolysis modules can be actively switched to operate with a higher electrolysis production requirement than the average electrolysis production requirement in order to maintain an electrolysis module.

[0035] The central controller can be configured, in particular by means of a PLC (programmable logic computer), to control and / or regulate an electrolysis module cluster and / or a plurality of electrolysis module clusters. In addition, the central controller can be configured to execute a safety control of the electrolysis system S-PLC. For this purpose, the central controller can be configured and configured to be communicatively coupled to the respective control interface of the respective electrolysis module cluster in order to request and / or provide, for example, operating parameters such as status information, target and actual values ​​corresponding to an operating mode, a hydrogen production quantity, water temperatures of water or cooling water circuits, and / or volume flows of corresponding fluids of the electrolysis modules.

[0036] In addition, the central control unit can be configured and set up to be communicatively coupled to the respective control interface of the respective electrolysis module cluster in order to exchange and / or provide safety-relevant status messages, for example when the safety control unit is triggered, with one of the plurality of electrolysis modules and / or to exchange and / or request and / or provide warnings, messages and an operating status.

[0037] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective control interface is configured and set up to provide a respective operating mode to the respective electrolysis module based on the provided target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster.

[0038] The respective operating mode may additionally depend on the respective current electrolysis production capacity of the respective electrolysis module and / or on a quality factor of the respective electrolysis module, as further described below.

[0039] The target operating mode can be provided by a central controller to specify the operating mode of individual electrolysis modules and / or the electrolysis module cluster. Depending on stored historical data of the respective electrolysis module and / or the respective electrolysis stack system and / or the respective components of the electrolysis module and / or the respective sensors and / or actuators of the electrolysis module and / or the respective electrolysis stack system and / or the respective power electronics, the control interface can be configured to control and / or regulate the respective electrolysis module with respect to the respective operating mode and / or a respective current electrolysis production quantity capacity and / or a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement.

[0040] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the first electrolysis module and the second electrolysis module are configured and arranged to be operated with different operating modes and / or different electrolysis production quantity requirements.

[0041] The control interface can thus be configured to operate the respective electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster individually in an optimal manner according to the total electrolysis production quantity requirement and / or the respective electrolysis production quantity requirement for the respective electrolysis module and / or the target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster, depending on stored historical data regarding the previous operation of the respective electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster.

[0042] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the plurality of operating modes for the respective electrolysis module and / or the plurality of target operating modes, in particular for the electrolysis module cluster, comprise: an ON mode, an OFF mode, a COLD standby mode, a WARM standby mode, a protection-OFF mode, an emergency-OFF mode and / or a normal mode.

[0043] The ON mode and OFF mode are literally self-explanatory. The COLD standby mode describes an operating mode of the respective electrolysis module in which a water circuit for the electrolysis module is activated and the sensor values ​​are evaluated, but without the respective electrolysis module drawing any electrical current for electrolysis. The WARM standby mode describes an operating state in which the respective electrolysis module is set up with a temperature-controlled water circuit and the sensor data is evaluated without the respective electrolysis module drawing any electrical power for electrolysis. The Protection OFF mode describes an OFF operating mode of the respective electrolysis module in which, for example, temperature values ​​of the water circuit for a respective electrolysis module have exceeded a limit value and a pump in the water circuit is controlled in order to generate a higher flow in the water circuit.The Emergency-OFF mode describes an OFF operating mode of the respective electrolysis module in which the electrical power to the electrolysis module is abruptly shut off, for example, due to a detected error, corresponding to an emergency shutdown. The Normal mode describes an operating mode in which the respective electrolysis module produces the electrolysis product according to an electrolysis production quantity requirement.

[0044] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the normal mode of the operating mode comprises: a lifetime protection mode, a production max mode, a minimum power mode and / or an LCOH mode.

[0045] The lifetime protection mode identifies an operating mode of the respective electrolysis module in which the electrolysis module is selected in relation to the supplied electrical power and / or other operating conditions, such as the temperature of the water circuit, so that the lifetime of the respective electrolysis module is maximized. The maximum production mode identifies an operating mode in which the respective electrolysis module is operated so that the electrolysis production quantity is maximized. The minimum power mode identifies an operating mode of the respective electrolysis module in which the respective electrolysis module is operated with a minimum electrical power and produces a correspondingly small amount of electrolysis product.The LCOH mode (levelised cost of hydrogen) characterises an operating mode of the respective electrolysis module in which the respective electrolysis module is controlled in such a way that an optimisation of the costs of the electrolysis product, e.g. hydrogen, is enabled.

[0046] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective control interface is configured and set up to provide the respective electrolysis module with a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement based on the total electrolysis production quantity requirement and based on at least one quality factor of the respective electrolysis module.

[0047] The quality factor of the respective electrolysis module can be defined based on stored historical data of the respective electrolysis module and / or the respective electrolysis stack system and / or of respective components of the electrolysis module and / or of sensors and / or actuators of the respective electrolysis module and / or the respective electrolysis stack system and / or the respective power electronics, in order to control and / or regulate the respective electrolysis module with regard to the respective operating mode and / or a respective current electrolysis production quantity performance and / or a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement, in particular depending on these stored historical data that characterize the quality factor.

[0048] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective control interface is configured and set up to determine the respective operating mode for the respective electrolysis module based on the provided target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster, based on the at least one quality factor of the respective electrolysis module, and to provide an operating mode to the respective electrolysis module for operation. The operating mode can be determined by means of the respective control interface in accordance with an operating mode possible and / or executable by the respective electrolysis module and in particular in accordance with a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement. The possible and / or executable operating mode can be reported to the respective control interface by the control and regulation electronics.Alternatively or additionally, the respective operating mode can also be determined by a quality factor of the respective electrolysis module via the respective control interface. In particular, a specified electrolysis production capacity of the respective electrolysis module can also be taken into account.

[0049] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the at least one quality factor comprises: a current electrolysis production quantity performance capacity of the respective electrolysis module and / or a period until the next scheduled maintenance of the respective electrolysis module and / or a fault message history of the respective electrolysis module and / or an operating time of the respective electrolysis module and / or a power consumption history and / or a voltage requirement history of the respective electrolysis module and / or a temperature history of the electrolysis stack system of the respective electrolysis module. The at least one quality factor can be defined such that the quality factor characterizes a current state of the respective electrolysis module for providing an electrolysis production quantity, in particular taking into account a respective operating mode.

[0050] Electrolysis module cluster according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis module are configured and arranged to provide a current operating mode and / or a specified electrolysis production quantity performance and / or a current electrolysis production quantity of the respective electrolysis module to the respective control interface and / or to each of the control interfaces.

[0051] The respective control interface can be configured and set up to determine a current electrolysis production quantity performance of a respective electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster, based on current and historical values ​​of the respective electrolysis module and / or messages from the respective control and regulation electronics of the respective electrolysis module.

[0052] In particular, if the technical and / or specified performance of the respective electrolysis module is not sufficient for the electrolysis product quantity requirement and / or the provided operating mode and / or the electrolysis product quantity requirement in the provided operating mode, the control interface can be set up and configured to provide a correspondingly adjusted electrolysis product quantity requirement and / or an adjusted operating mode for operating the respective electrolysis module based on the current operating mode and / or the specified electrolysis production quantity performance and / or the current electrolysis production quantity.

[0053] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective control interface of the respective electrolysis module is set up and configured to have an inactive status if the control interface of another electrolysis module has an active status, so that only a single control interface is active in the electrolysis module cluster. In other words, the electrolysis module cluster is controlled by a single control interface of one of the plurality of electrolysis modules, in particular with regard to the functionality of the control interface.

[0054] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the control interface of the first electrolysis module and the control interface of the second electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster are configured and set up to control the status of the control interface of the first electrolysis module from active to inactive based on a trigger signal, and to control the status of the control interface of the second electrolysis module from inactive to active based on the trigger signal.

[0055] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the trigger signal described above is generated by an error signal and / or the planned maintenance and / or a fault message concerning an electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster.

[0056] A multi-electrolysis module cluster is proposed, comprising a first electrolysis module cluster and a second electrolysis module cluster. The respective control interface, which has an active status in the first electrolysis module cluster, can be signal-coupled to the respective control interface, which has an active status in the second electrolysis module cluster.

[0057] The respective control interfaces 130 of the multi-electrolysis module cluster, which have an active status in the respective electrolysis module cluster, can be configured and set up to have an inactive cooperation status for the multi-electrolysis module cluster, provided that another control interface, which has an active status in the respective electrolysis module cluster, has an active cooperation status for the multi-electrolysis module cluster. The control interface, which has the active cooperation status, can be configured and set up to be signal-coupled to a central controller for providing a multi-cluster electrolysis production quantity request for the multi-electrolysis module cluster.In addition, the control interface having the active cooperation status may be configured and set up to provide the respective control interfaces having an active status with a respective cluster electrolysis product quantity request corresponding to the multi-cluster electrolysis production quantity request for operation of the respective electrolysis module cluster 140.

[0058] In other words, in the multi-electrolysis module cluster, each active control interface can be configured to control the respective electrolysis modules in the respective electrolysis module cluster. The respective active control interfaces can be configured to coordinate with each other using a coordinator status.

[0059] Furthermore, the coordinator status of the active control interfaces can be switched using the trigger signal. Regarding the coordinator role, exactly one control interface of the multi-electrolysis module cluster is always active.

[0060] The control interface with the active coordinator status can be configured to communicate bidirectionally with the central control system. Furthermore, the control interface with the active coordinator status can be configured to provide a requested production quantity to the control interfaces of the individual electrolysis module clusters. The respective active control interfaces then distribute the respective request for a production quantity to be provided to the electrolysis modules assigned to them in the respective electrolysis module cluster. Furthermore, the control interface with the active coordinator status can be configured to distribute the target operating modes to the electrolysis module clusters, with the respective operating modes in which the respective electrolysis module is operated being assigned to the respective electrolysis modules by the respective assigned control interface of the electrolysis module.

[0061] Alternatively or in addition to a respective control interface, the respective electrolysis module can be configured and set up to provide the above-described functionality of the control interface for the respective electrolysis module cluster.

[0062] The respective control interfaces can be configured and set up according to the respective control interfaces of the electrolysis module cluster, as described above, wherein the respective control interfaces can be configured and set up to additionally execute the respective functionality of the respective other control interfaces with respect to the respective plurality of electrolysis modules of the multi-electrolysis module cluster for the respective other control interface, so that only a single control interface can be active in the multi-electrolysis module cluster.

[0063] The signal coupling of the respective control interfaces of the plurality of electrolysis modules can be a bidirectional signal coupling in order to be able to transfer, in particular, the control by the respective control interface with regard to the respective electrolysis product quantity requirement and a respective operating mode for the control-autonomous operation of the respective electrolysis module to another of the plurality of control interfaces.

[0064] The multi-electrolysis module cluster may comprise a plurality of electrolysis module clusters, wherein the respective control interface may be configured and set up to provide all electrolysis module clusters of the plurality of electrolysis module clusters with respect to the respective electrolysis product quantity requirement and a respective operating mode for the control-autonomous operation of the respective electrolysis module.

[0065] In other words, a control interface that has the active status can be assigned an active cooperation status. For this purpose, the active control interfaces can be signal-coupled to each other.

[0066] For large electrolysis module systems with a large number of electrolysis modules, it is advantageous to form multiple electrolysis module clusters, each with an active control interface. The active control interfaces can be coordinated by a single control interface with an active cooperation status. This can improve the module rarity by increasing the flexibility for the operation and construction of the multi-electrolysis module cluster.

[0067] Advantageously, one of the active control interfaces can have the active cooperation status without requiring additional hardware, as the processor-side requirements for the cooperation of the active control interfaces are minimal. In other words, a cooperative function is assigned to an active control interface of an electrolysis module cluster via software.

[0068] In case of maintenance work and / or an emergency stop, a failure of the control interface with the active cooperation status can be transferred to another active control interface or to another control interface.

[0069] In particular, the control interface having the active cooperation status can communicate with a central control of an entire electrolysis plant by exchanging and / or providing operating parameters such as setpoint and actual values ​​for operating modes and / or an electrolysis production quantity or a hydrogen production and / or water temperatures and / or volume flows of cooling liquids.

[0070] Additionally or alternatively, the control interface with the active cooperation status can exchange safety-relevant messages, for example, if a safety control of an electrolysis module is triggered. Additionally or alternatively, the control interface with the active cooperation status can coordinate the active control interfaces, and the active control interfaces can be configured to report technical messages from the respective electrolysis module cluster to the control interface with the active cooperation status.

[0071] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the control interface having the active cooperation status is configured and set up to be signal-coupled to a central controller for providing a target operating mode for the multi-electrolysis module cluster; and wherein the control interface having the active cooperation status can be configured and set up to provide the respective control interfaces having an active status with a respective target operating mode for operation of the respective electrolysis module cluster, corresponding to the target operating mode for the respective multi-electrolysis module cluster.

[0072] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective control interface of the respective electrolysis module is configured and set up to control the cooperation status of the respective control interface of the multi-electrolysis module cluster from active to inactive based on a corporation trigger signal, and to control the status of a respective control interface of exactly one other electrolysis module of the multi-electrolysis module cluster from inactive to active based on the trigger signal.

[0073] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the cooperation trigger signal is generated by an error signal and / or the planned maintenance and / or a fault message concerning an electrolysis module of the multi-electrolysis module cluster.

[0074] The clusters described here, with regard to the control of the respective electrolysis modules, can be divided independently of hardware clusters. For example, k electrolysis modules could each be connected to a water circuit and separator, thus forming a hardware cluster. The respective control and regulation electronics of these k electrolysis modules could be controlled via a respective control interface that has an active status, forming a control cluster with k control and regulation electronics.

[0075] Alternatively or additionally, control electronics for the respective electrolysis modules of m hardware clusters, each consisting of k electrolysis modules, could be connected to an active control interface. This would then consist of n = km control electronics.

[0076] In the event of an active control interface failure, the control interface that has an active cooperation status can shut down the electrolysis modules of the failed active control interface in a controlled manner or, alternatively, can connect the control and regulation electronics to a new active control interface via signals.

[0077] If the control interface with an active cooperation status fails, the respective electrolysis modules can be configured and set up to continue their current operating mode with emergency operating parameters until a new control interface assigned the active cooperation status takes over. Since such a takeover can typically occur within a few seconds, this does not result in any disadvantages for the normal operation of the respective electrolysis module cluster and / or multi-electrolysis module cluster.

[0078] The respective active control interfaces can be configured, similar to a RAID system, to operate a second control interface of the respective electrolysis module cluster in parallel. One active control interface, "P1," receives, processes, and transmits the corresponding control signals. The other control interface, "P2," receives and processes the respective control signals. Should "P1" fail, "P2" can take over transmitting the processed control signals on the fly.

[0079] According to one aspect, it is proposed that the respective electrolysis modules and / or the respective control interfaces are signal-coupled to one another by means of a switch port.

[0080] The use of the multi-electrolysis module cluster and / or the multi-electrolysis module cluster for the production of hydrogen is proposed. Examples of implementation

[0081] Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and explained in more detail below. They show: Fig. 1a a sketch of an electrolysis module cluster; Fig. 1b outlines a transition of the active state from one control interface to another control interface; and Fig. 2a, b a sketch of a multi-electrolysis module cluster with a transition of the cooperation status from a control interface of one electrolysis module cluster to a control interface of another electrolysis module cluster.

[0082] The Fig. 1a schematically outlines an electrolysis module cluster 100 with a first electrolysis module 140 and a second electrolysis module 140. The respective electrolysis module 140 has an electrolysis stack system with a plurality of actuators and a plurality of sensors and power electronics coupled to the electrolysis stack system for providing electrical energy. A control interface 120, 122 of the respective electrolysis module 140 is configured to provide a respective operating mode of a plurality of operating modes for the respective electrolysis module 140 of the electrolysis module cluster 100 and / or to provide a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement for the respective electrolysis module 140 of the electrolysis module cluster 100.

[0083] A control and regulation electronics 130 of the respective electrolysis module 140, which is respectively signal-coupled to the plurality of actuators and sensors and the power electronics and the control interface 120, is configured to operate the respective electrolysis stack system in a control-autonomous manner by means of the actuators and the power electronics, based on signals from the respective plurality of sensors of the electrolysis stack system and based on the electrolysis production quantity requirement provided for the electrolysis module 140 in each case and based on the operating mode provided for the respective electrolysis module 140 in each case.

[0084] The respective control interface 220 of the respective electrolysis module 140 is set up and configured to have an inactive status if the control interface 222 of another electrolysis module 140 has an active status, so that only a single control interface 222 is active in the electrolysis module cluster 200.

[0085] The respective electrolysis modules and / or the respective control interfaces can be coupled to one another and / or to a central controller 110 by means of a switch port.

[0086] The Fig. 1b corresponds to the Fig. 1a and in comparison with the Fig. 1c is outlined as a first control interface 122 of the electrolysis module cluster 100, which according to the Fig. 1b has an active status, is controlled from an active status to a passive status and a second control interface 120 that is in the Fig. 1c, is controlled from the passive state to the active state of the control interface 122. This control between the two states can be based on a trigger signal, which is generated, for example, by an error signal and / or scheduled maintenance and / or a fault message concerning an electrolysis module of the electrolysis module cluster.

[0087] The Fig. Figure 2a schematically outlines a multi-electrolysis module cluster 200 with a first electrolysis module cluster 100 and a second electrolysis module cluster 100, which corresponds to the electrolysis module cluster 100 described above. The respective control interface 122, 222, which has an active status in the first electrolysis module cluster 100, is signal-coupled to the respective control interface 122, 222, which has an active status in a respective electrolysis module cluster 100.

[0088] The respective control interfaces 122, which have an active status in the respective electrolysis module cluster 100, are configured and set up to have an inactive cooperation status for the multi-electrolysis module cluster, provided that another control interface 222, which has an active status in the respective electrolysis module cluster, has an active cooperation status for the multi-electrolysis module cluster. The control interface 222, which has the active cooperation status, is configured and set up to be signal-coupled to a central controller 110 for providing a multi-cluster electrolysis production quantity request for the multi-electrolysis module cluster 200. The respective electrolysis modules and / or the respective control interfaces can be signal-coupled to one another and / or to the central controller 110 by means of a switch port 112.

[0089] The control interface having the active cooperation status is configured and set up to provide the respective control interfaces 122 having an active status with a respective cluster electrolysis product quantity request corresponding to the multi-cluster electrolysis production quantity request for operation of the respective electrolysis module cluster 140.

[0090] The Fig. 2b schematically outlines in comparison with the Fig. 2c as a first control interface 222 of the multi-electrolysis module cluster (200), which according to the Fig. 2a has an active cooperation status, is controlled from an active cooperation status to a passive cooperation status and a second control interface 122 that in the Fig.2a, is controlled from the passive cooperation state to the active cooperation state of the control interface 222. This control between the two cooperation states can be based on a cooperation trigger signal, which is generated, for example, by an error signal and / or the scheduled maintenance and / or a fault message concerning an electrolysis module of the multi-electrolysis module cluster.

Claims

[1] Electrolysis module cluster (100) with a first electrolysis module (140) and a second electrolysis module (140), wherein the respective electrolysis module (140) comprises: an electrolysis stack system with a multitude of actuators and a multitude of sensors; a power electronics system coupled to the electrolysis stack system to provide electrical energy, and a control interface (120) for providing a respective operating mode of a plurality of operating modes for the respective electrolysis module (140) of the electrolysis module cluster (100) and / or for providing a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement for the respective electrolysis module (140) of the electrolysis module cluster (100), and a control and regulation electronics (130) which is signal-coupled to the plurality of actuators and sensors and the power electronics and the control interface (120), and wherein the control and regulation electronics (130) are set up, based on signals from the respective multitude of sensors of the electrolysis stack system and based on the electrolysis production quantity requirement provided for the electrolysis module (140) and based on the operating mode provided for the respective electrolysis module (140), to operate the respective electrolysis stack system in a control-autonomous manner by means of the actuators and the power electronics. [2] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to claim 1, wherein the respective control interface (120) is configured and arranged to be signal-coupled to a central controller (110) for providing a total electrolysis production quantity requirement and a target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster (100); and the respective control interface (120) is configured and arranged to compare the provided total electrolysis production quantity requirement of the electrolysis module cluster (100) with a sum of a respective current electrolysis production quantity performance of the electrolysis modules (140) of the electrolysis module cluster (100); and to provide the respective control and regulating electronics (130) of the respective electrolysis module (140) with a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement corresponding to the total electrolysis production quantity requirement for operation of the respective electrolysis module (140). [3] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective control interface (120) is configured and arranged to provide a respective operating mode to the respective electrolysis module (140) based on the provided target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster. [4] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrolysis module (140) and the second electrolysis module (140) are configured and arranged to be operated with respective different operating modes and / or different electrolysis production quantity requirements. [5] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of operating modes and / or the plurality of target operating modes comprise: an ON mode, an OFF mode, a COLD standby mode, a WARM standby mode, a protection-OFF mode, an emergency-OFF mode and / or a normal mode. [6] The electrolysis module cluster (100) according to claim 5, wherein the normal mode of the operation mode comprises: a lifetime protection mode, a production max mode, a minimum power mode, and / or an LCOH mode. [7] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective control interface (120) is configured and arranged to provide a respective electrolysis production quantity requirement to the respective electrolysis module (140) based on the total electrolysis production quantity requirement; and based on at least one quality factor of the respective electrolysis module (140). [8] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to claim 7, wherein the respective control interface (120) is configured and arranged to determine the respective operating mode for the respective electrolysis module (140) based on the provided target operating mode for the electrolysis module cluster (100), based on the at least one quality factor of the respective electrolysis module (140); and to provide an operating mode to the respective electrolysis module (140) for operation. [9] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the at least one quality factor comprises: a current electrolysis production quantity performance of the respective electrolysis module (140) and / or a period until the next scheduled maintenance of the respective electrolysis module (140) and / or a fault report history of the respective electrolysis module (140) and / or an operating time of the respective electrolysis module (140) and / or a power consumption history of the respective electrolysis module (140) and / or a voltage requirement history of the respective electrolysis module (140) and / or a temperature history of the electrolysis stack system of the respective electrolysis module (140). [10] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control and regulation electronics (130) of the respective electrolysis module (140) is configured and arranged to provide a current operating mode and / or a specified electrolysis production quantity performance and / or a current electrolysis production quantity of the respective electrolysis module (140), the respective control interface (120) and / or each of the control interfaces. [11] Electrolysis module cluster (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective control interface (120) of the respective electrolysis module (140) is arranged and configured to have an inactive status if the control interface (122) of another electrolysis module (140) has an active status, so that only a single control interface (122) is active in the electrolysis module cluster (100). [12] Multi-electrolysis module cluster (200), comprising: a first electrolysis module cluster (100) and a second electrolysis module cluster (100) according to claim 11; wherein the respective control interface (122, 222) having an active status in the first electrolysis module cluster (100) is signal-coupled to the respective control interface (120, 222) having an active status in the second electrolysis module cluster (100); and wherein the respective control interfaces (122) having an active status in the respective electrolysis module cluster (100) are configured and set up to have an inactive cooperation status for the multi-electrolysis module cluster, provided that another control interface (222) having an active status in the respective electrolysis module cluster has an active cooperation status for the multi-electrolysis module cluster (200); and wherein the control interface (222), which has the active cooperation status, is configured and arranged to be signal-coupled to a central controller (110) for providing a multi-cluster electrolysis production quantity request for the multi-electrolysis module cluster (200); and wherein the control interface (222), which has the active cooperation status, is configured and set up to provide the respective control interfaces (122), which have an active status, with a respective cluster electrolysis product quantity request corresponding to the multi-cluster electrolysis production quantity request for operation of the respective electrolysis module cluster (100). [13] Multi-electrolysis module cluster (200) according to claim 12, wherein the control interface (222) having the active cooperation status is configured and arranged to be signal-coupled to a central controller (110) for providing a target operating mode for the multi-electrolysis module cluster (200); and wherein the control interface (222) having the active cooperation status is configured and arranged to provide the respective control interfaces (122) having an active status with a respective target operating mode for operation of the respective electrolysis module cluster (140) corresponding to the target operating mode for the respective multi-electrolysis module cluster (200). [14] Multi-electrolysis module cluster (200) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the respective control interface (120, 122, 222) of the respective electrolysis module (140) is configured and arranged to control the cooperation status of the respective control interface (120, 122, 222) of the multi-electrolysis module cluster (200) from active to inactive based on a corporation trigger signal, and to control the status of a respective control interface (222) of exactly one other electrolysis module of the multi-electrolysis module cluster from inactive to active based on the cooperation trigger signal. [15] Multi-electrolysis module cluster (200) according to claim 14, wherein the cooperation trigger signal is generated by an error signal and / or the scheduled maintenance and / or a fault message concerning an electrolysis module of the multi-electrolysis module cluster.

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