Power supply device for supplying power to an industrial automation system

Abstract

The invention relates to a power supply device (40) for supplying power to an industrial automation system, comprising: - an energy converter (50) for generating electrical energy, comprising an arrangement of one or more fuel cells (51) to convert chemical reaction energy into electrical energy,

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to an automation platform. State of the art

[0002] It is known from the prior art that fuel cells are capable of converting media such as hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. Fuel cells make it possible to achieve high energy efficiency and offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional energy systems. Various types of fuel cells have been developed in the past, including alkaline fuel cells, polymer electrolyte fuel cells, direct methanol fuel cells, and high-temperature fuel cells.

[0003] It is also known that power supplies are used in automation systems to provide energy to components and functional modules. These power supplies can often have disadvantages, such as a limitation in maximum power, lower energy efficiency and load capacity, and greater technical complexity when used in the system.

[0004] Solutions of the generic type are known from the publications DE 10 2012 112 917 A1, DE 10 2016 118 613 A1 and DE 10 2008 036 554 A1.

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved energy supply for an automation system. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to a power supply device with the features of claim 1 and an automation platform with the features of claim 5. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the power supply device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the automation platform according to the invention, and vice versa, so that a reciprocal reference is always possible with regard to the disclosure of the invention.

[0007] The invention relates in particular to a power supply device for supplying power to an industrial automation system. The industrial automation system can, for example, comprise a production line, an assembly line, a transport system, or a robot cell. Furthermore, the industrial automation system can comprise at least one of the following components: a control unit for monitoring and controlling individual components of the system, sensors for acquiring data such as temperature, pressure, or position, actuators for executing instructions such as opening or closing valves or moving robots, a database for storing production data and parameters, an interface for connecting to other systems such as an ERP system, a visualization unit for displaying production and machine data, and an emergency stop unit for quickly shutting down the system in emergencies.An energy supply device according to the invention can serve to ensure a reliable and continuous power supply to the components in such industrial automation systems. This enables, for example, uninterrupted production.

[0008] It is possible to integrate the power supply device as a modular component into the automation system. This can offer the advantage of greater flexibility in the automation system design, as the power supply device can be easily replaced or expanded without requiring a complete system reconfiguration. Furthermore, the power supply device can be equipped with various interfaces to facilitate easy integration into the automation system. For example, the control and monitoring of the power supply device can be performed directly via the automation system, increasing the system's efficiency and reliability.

[0009] The energy supply device according to the invention can comprise at least one energy converter, which is preferably designed as a fuel cell system and, in particular, a fuel cell stack. The energy converter can serve to generate electrical energy and may include an arrangement of one or more fuel cells to convert chemical reaction energy into electrical energy. An electrical interface can be provided to supply an energy flow to at least one component and / or one or more functional modules of the automation system based on the generated electrical energy. For this purpose, the generated electrical energy is provided at the electrical interface and can be accessed via a connector or the like.This enables a reliable energy supply for controlling and / or monitoring automated processes within the automation system. This can further enhance the system's ability to operate independently of a power supply unit and / or external power source, thereby increasing flexibility and reliability. Furthermore, the use of fuel cell technology can make the automation system's energy supply more environmentally friendly. In this context, the fuel cell technology—i.e., the energy supply device—can potentially serve as the sole or predominant energy source for the automation system. This can reduce energy costs and increase the system's sustainability.

[0010] Furthermore, it is optionally provided that the power supply device includes a housing with mechanical connections for detachable mounting within the automation system. These mechanical connections can include, for example, fasteners for screws and / or connectors. Alternatively or additionally, the power supply device can be portable and / or mobile, preferably weighing no more than 20 kg or in the range of 5 kg to 40 kg, preferably 10 kg to 20 kg. This can have the advantage that the power supply device can be easily transported and used at different locations within the automation system without requiring permanent installation. It is also possible for the power supply device to be equipped with intelligent controls that allow for automatic adaptation to the specific requirements of the installation location.This ensures an efficient and needs-based energy supply.

[0011] It is further possible that the power supply device includes media connections for supplying media, preferably hydrogen and oxygen, in order to generate electrical energy via a chemical reaction of the supplied media by the energy converter. Furthermore, the power supply device can have at least one coolant connection, in particular for a cooling fluid, to provide heat extraction from the energy converter to maintain a predetermined operating temperature. This can have the advantage that the power supply device operates stably and reliably even under high loads. It is also possible that the coolant connections are arranged in a specific configuration to ensure optimal heat dissipation. The coolant connections are, for example,The connections are arranged diagonally to ensure even distribution of the coolant and thus optimal heat dissipation. Each connection is, for example, linked to a coolant channel that directs the coolant through the energy converter.

[0012] The power supply device can also include a control unit that manages and monitors the operation of the energy converter to ensure optimal performance. Optionally, the control unit can also communicate with other systems within the automation plant to enable seamless integration of the power supply device.

[0013] The power supply device can have at least one main power connection of an electrical interface for connection to a main power line and / or at least one auxiliary power connection of the electrical interface for connection to an auxiliary power line in order to provide the power flow in the form of a main and / or auxiliary power flow. This can have the advantage that the power supply device can be used flexibly as a power source for various components with different requirements. It is also possible for the power supply device to have a data connection for a (particularly electronic) control unit, which in particular controls and regulates the power flow as needed. This allows the power supply device to operate more efficiently and optimize energy consumption.The control unit can, for example, adjust the energy flow based on input signals from sensors, thus providing an intelligent energy supply.

[0014] Furthermore, the power supply device can include an electronic control unit to control the operation of the fuel cell stack. The control unit can regulate the supply of the medium, preferably the hydrogen and oxygen supply, and / or the temperature of the fuel cell stack, and preferably control a coolant pump for temperature regulation to maintain the predetermined operating temperature.

[0015] Another option is to design the housing with at least one seal and / or to make it from electrically insulating plastic and / or metal to ensure the power supply device is watertight and dustproof for operation in the automation system. This has the advantage of enabling reliable operation, for example, by providing a protection class of IP54, IP65, or IP67.

[0016] The energy converter can include at least one fuel cell and is preferably configured as a fuel cell stack. The energy converter can comprise an arrangement of bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs), which are arranged, for example, in series or parallel. This configuration allows multiple MEAs to be used simultaneously to increase power output and energy generation.

[0017] It is also possible that the power supply device, and in particular the fuel cell stack, has a special coating to increase the stack's lifespan and reduce corrosion. This coating could, for example, consist of a thin layer of platinum or other precious metals.

[0018] The energy converter can also include a safety device that ensures automatic shutdown of the fuel cell stack in the event of malfunctions or overload. Alternatively or additionally, the fuel cell stack can include a cooling system to regulate the operating temperature of the fuel cells and improve efficiency. This cooling system can be, for example, a liquid cooling system or an air cooling system. Cooling can be achieved through active or passive methods.

[0019] The energy converter may also include a control system, particularly an electronic one, to monitor and regulate the performance and operation of the fuel cells. This control system may include an electronic control unit.

[0020] The energy converter can also include a fuel cell combustion chamber that reacts the fuel and oxygen to generate energy. The energy converter can further include an exhaust system to remove the fuel cell's exhaust gases.

[0021] The energy converter is preferably designed as a PEM fuel cell stack. PEM stands for Proton Exchange Membrane. This can offer the advantage of higher efficiency and thus higher power output. Furthermore, the energy converter can also have a longer lifespan, as PEM technology allows for greater stability and better control of the reaction conditions.

[0022] Furthermore, the energy converter may have means for media supply, in particular air and / or water supply means, preferably in the form of channels such as air and / or water supply channels, in order to regulate the media or hydrogen and / or oxygen flow and to optimize the reaction conditions.

[0023] It is also conceivable that the energy converter has means for heat dissipation, in particular heat dissipation channels, to remove the heat generated during the reaction and to avoid overheating.

[0024] The energy converter allows multiple fuel cells to be stacked to increase power output and save space. Accordingly, the energy converter can be designed as a fuel cell system. Furthermore, the energy converter can have a modular design to flexibly adapt to different applications and power requirements. It can also include control and monitoring components to optimize operation and monitor the system's condition.

[0025] Advantageously, the energy converter can be designed as a fuel cell stack, such as a 5 kW stack, which, for example, has a voltage range of 36 to 64 V and / or an output current of 0 to 100 A. The dimensions of the energy converter are, in particular: - 100 mm to 500 mm, preferably 200 mm to 400 mm, in width, and / or - 10 mm to 350 mm, preferably 100 mm to 200 mm, in height, and / or - 50 mm to 500 mm, preferably 150 mm to 300 mm, in depth.

[0026] The weight of the energy converter is, for example, in the range of 1 kg to 15 kg, preferably 2 kg to 12 kg. The maximum power output of the energy converter can be in the range of 1 kW to 10 kW, preferably 2 kW to 7 kW, and preferably 5 kW. The use of a fuel cell stack in the automation system ensures an environmentally friendly and efficient power supply. Compared to conventional power sources, the use of a fuel cell stack offers several advantages, such as emission-free and efficient power generation without energy loss in the form of heat.

[0027] The invention also relates to an automation platform for an automation system, preferably an industrial automation system, and more preferably an electrical automation system. The automation platform can include a power supply device, preferably according to the invention, with an energy converter. One possible embodiment of the power supply device has already been described above. Furthermore, the automation platform can include at least one main power line configured to provide a main energy flow to at least one of the several functional modules of the automation platform and / or to one or more components of the automation system.Furthermore, the automation platform may have at least one auxiliary power line configured to provide an auxiliary power flow to at least one of the several functional modules of the automation platform and / or to one or more components of the automation system. The auxiliary power flow may involve a lower electrical voltage and / or a lower electrical current than the main power flow.

[0028] Furthermore, the energy supply device can be configured to generate electrical energy for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow by means of the energy converter in order to provide the energy supply for controlling and / or monitoring automatic processes in the automation system. Thus, the automation platform according to the invention offers the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to an energy supply device according to the invention.

[0029] Furthermore, the electrical energy of the energy converter may correspond to the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. For example, the main energy flow may have an electrical voltage in the range of 100 to 1000 V, preferably 200 to 800 V, and the auxiliary energy flow may have an electrical voltage in the range of 1 to 100 V, preferably 10 to 70 V. The main energy flow serves, for example, to control components with higher current requirements, such as motors, whereas the auxiliary energy flow can serve to control sensors and / or controllers of the automation system.

[0030] Furthermore, the automation platform, and in particular the power supply device, may include at least one converter element, preferably a transformer element, configured to convert the electrical energy of the energy converter for the main power flow and / or the auxiliary power flow. This can have the advantage that the automation platform is able to optimize energy efficiency and that the required voltage for a specific application can be provided by the energy converter. The main power flow and / or the auxiliary power flow can then be made available to components of the automation system, such as motors, robots, and / or sensors.

[0031] Furthermore, at least one conversion element may optionally be provided in the automation platform, and in particular in the power supply device, which is capable of converting direct current to alternating current or vice versa. For example, 48 VDC can be converted to 400 VAC to provide an emergency power supply.

[0032] Furthermore, the automation platform and / or the power supply device can also be configured to provide an emergency power supply for the automation system and / or an emergency power supply system whose emergency power supply units can be assembled modularly, preferably in the form of functional modules. The emergency power supply can be provided by the emergency power supply units – particularly in the form of functional modules – each comprising a power supply device according to the invention or an energy converter with one or more fuel cells. This can have the advantage that the automation system can continue to operate even during a power outage, thus ensuring continuous operation.It is also possible for the emergency power supply units to activate automatically as soon as a power outage is detected, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply for the automation system. Thanks to their modular design, the emergency power supply units can be flexibly adapted to the requirements of the automation system, particularly for different voltage and / or current levels. Furthermore, the use of fuel cells as energy converters enables an environmentally friendly and efficient power supply.

[0033] Another possibility is that the automation platform, and in particular the power supply device, includes at least one inverter element configured to convert the electrical energy of the energy converter for the main energy flow and / or the main energy flow. This can have the advantage that the automation platform is able to provide the required voltage and / or maximize the energy efficiency of the energy converter by providing the energy in the desired form for the main energy flow and / or the main energy flow.

[0034] Preferably, within the scope of the invention, the main power supply comprises an AC voltage of up to 1000 volts and / or a DC voltage of up to 1500 volts and / or an AC voltage in the range of 70 volts to 1000 volts and / or a DC voltage in the range of 130 volts to 1500 volts, and preferably an AC voltage of substantially 400 volts or a DC voltage in the range of 650 V to 700 V. It is further conceivable that the auxiliary power supply comprises an AC voltage of up to 50 volts and / or a DC voltage of up to 120 volts and / or an AC voltage in the range of 0.01 volts to 50 volts and / or a DC voltage in the range of 0.01 volts to 120 volts, and preferably a DC voltage of substantially 24 V or 48 V. In this way, the main and auxiliary power supplies can be used to power various components of the automation system with different requirements, such as... B. to operate motors, robots, or sensors.

[0035] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the energy converter comprises a primary energy converter and an auxiliary energy converter, wherein the primary energy converter is configured to provide electrical energy for the primary energy flow and the auxiliary energy converter is configured to provide electrical energy for the auxiliary energy flow. This enables tailored energy conversion for the primary and auxiliary energy flows, particularly with different voltage and / or current ranges and / or different current types.

[0036] Another possibility is that the energy converter comprises several interconnected fuel cell units designed to jointly generate the electrical energy for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. This enables efficient energy conversion.

[0037] It is also conceivable that the energy converter could optionally provide the sole or predominant energy supply for the automation platform. This would eliminate the need for external, less efficient energy sources.

[0038] Furthermore, a base module may be provided to which the various function modules can be connected modularly. For this purpose, the base module may, for example, have several slots for the function modules. The various function modules can be electrically connected to components of the automation system, for example, via electrical cables, to provide modular control and / or monitoring of the automated processes and / or the power supply for the components. The power supply device, and in particular the energy converter, can also be connected to the base module to distribute the main power flow and / or the auxiliary power flow to the function modules via the base module. For this distribution, connecting lines may be provided that run through the base module. These connecting lines may be designed, for example, as cables or as conductive traces.Separate connections for the primary and auxiliary power flows can be provided on the base module for the energy converter and / or the functional modules. The connections for the primary power flow can differ from those for the auxiliary power flow in terms of connection type and / or configuration, and / or be spaced apart. The connecting lines for the primary and auxiliary power flows can be arranged in separate channels. The base module can also be referred to as the backplane.

[0039] It is conceivable that the connections for the main and / or auxiliary power supply are provided via the backplane. In addition to main and auxiliary power supplies, a data supply can optionally be provided for data exchange and / or the exchange of control commands for the function modules. The backplane can optionally have two or three different channels. The main, auxiliary, and data supplies can be routed separately from each other via electrical lines in the different channels (e.g., the main power supply separate from the auxiliary and data supplies, or all three separately). This can have the advantage of simplifying the wiring between the function modules and the (inventive) power supply device and reducing the number of required lines or cables.

[0040] Furthermore, the base module, particularly the backplane, can be equipped with automatic detection of the functional modules to enable automatic connection assignment. This simplifies and accelerates the installation and commissioning of the system. Specifically, the automatic detection also allows for the automatic determination of which functional modules will receive power from the inventive power supply device and, if applicable, at what level. Additionally, the backplane can be equipped with a monitoring function to quickly detect and rectify malfunctions in the functional modules.

[0041] It is also possible for the automation platform to be designed as a decentralized automation platform. This means that the automation platform can provide at least one automation function, and preferably a control function, in a decentralized manner, i.e., within the field of the automation system. With regard to the automation function, the automation platform can at least partially replace a central control device (usually located in a control cabinet), such as a PLC. The automation platform may only be connected to the central control device for higher-level control functions, e.g., via a fieldbus system, but otherwise directly provide important automation functions for the automation system, such as motor control, sensor reading, power supply, emergency power supply, and / or automation logic itself.without the involvement of the central control device. For this purpose, the automation platform can, for example, include an industrial PC as one of its functional modules.

[0042] Furthermore, the decentralized automation platform can also interact with other decentralized automation platforms to, for example, combine automation functions for different segments of the automation system and thus operate the system jointly. This can have the advantage that the automation system can react more flexibly and quickly to changes and malfunctions, since the decentralized automation platforms are able to make decisions and execute control functions locally without relying on a central control device. It is also possible that the decentralized automation platform exhibits higher reliability, since if one component fails, only a portion of the automation functions is affected, and not the entire system. This can increase the availability of the automation system and minimize downtime.

[0043] An industrial automation system can be designed as an electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or fluid power system. An example of a hydraulic / fluid power automation system is a hydraulic press controlled by a decentralized automation platform. A pneumatic system could be an automated production line operated by the decentralized automation platform. An electrical automation system could be, for example, a robotic cell. A hydraulic system could be, for example, an automated forging plant. A mechanical system could be an automated CNC machining center.

[0044] It is possible that the energy converter is designed to be connected to the base module as one of the functional modules, in particular to provide the energy flow or energy supply for the energy flow, preferably for the main and / or auxiliary and / or data flow, for the other functional modules.

[0045] A further advantage is that the multiple function modules can be modularly interconnected, particularly without the use of a separate base module. The multiple function modules can also be electrically connected to components of the automation system to provide modular control and / or monitoring of the automated processes and / or power supply for the components. The energy converter can also be connected to the function modules to distribute the main power flow and / or the auxiliary power flow to the function modules. For distribution, connecting lines can be provided, for example, running through the interconnected function modules. The connections for the main power flow can differ from the connections for the auxiliary power flow in terms of connection type and / or configuration and / or be spaced apart.The connecting lines for the main and auxiliary power flow can be arranged in separate channels.

[0046] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. The drawings show: Fig. 1 A schematic representation of a power supply device according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an automation platform according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0047] In the following figures, identical reference numerals are used for the same technical features even for different embodiments.

[0048] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates an energy supply device 40 for supplying energy to an industrial automation system, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention. An energy converter 50 for generating electrical energy can be provided, which includes an arrangement of one or more fuel cells 51 to convert chemical reaction energy into electrical energy. Furthermore, an electrical interface 52 can be provided to supply energy to at least one component 110 and / or one or more functional modules 100 of the automation system based on the generated electrical energy. For this purpose, the generated energy can, for example, be passed directly to the at least one component 110 and / or to the one or more functional modules 100, or it can be transformed beforehand with respect to voltage level and / or current intensity and / or current type.

[0049] The power supply device 40 can further comprise a housing 90 with mechanical connections 53 for detachably mounting the power supply device 40 in the automation system, e.g., on a base module 10. The mechanical connections 53 can be, for example, screw threads, plug connections, or clamp connections. The power supply device 40 can be portable and / or mobile, preferably with a maximum weight of 20 kg.

[0050] Further media connections 57 can be provided for supplying media, preferably hydrogen and oxygen, in order to generate electrical energy via the energy converter 50 based on a chemical reaction of the supplied media. Examples of such media connections 57 are gas connections, compressed air connections, air connections, or other suitable media connections. The media connections 57 can be connected to hoses, e.g., by a screw and / or twist-lock fitting.

[0051] Furthermore, at least one coolant connection 30, in particular for a coolant, can be provided to extract heat from the energy converter 50 to maintain a predetermined operating temperature of the power supply device 40. The respective coolant connection 30 can be configured as an inlet or outlet opening that allows the coolant to flow into or out of the energy converter 50 to regulate the operating temperature. The coolant connection 30 can also include a valve that controls the flow of coolant through the energy converter 50 to monitor the operating temperature.

[0052] Furthermore, at least one main power connection 54 of the electrical interface 52 can be provided for connection to a main power line 61 and / or at least one auxiliary power connection 55 of the electrical interface 52 for connection to an auxiliary power line 62 in order to provide the energy flow in the form of a main and / or auxiliary energy flow.

[0053] The energy converter 50 can be configured as a fuel cell stack, and the power supply device 40 can include an electronic control unit 20 to control the operation of the fuel cell stack. Preferably, a coolant pump 21 can be controlled for temperature regulation to maintain the predetermined operating temperature.

[0054] The housing 90 may furthermore have at least one seal 91 and / or be made of an electrically insulating plastic and / or be made of metal in order to make the power supply device 40 watertight and dustproof for operation in the automation system.

[0055] In Fig. Figure 2 shows an exemplary automation platform 1 for an automation system with further details. In addition to a power supply device 40 with an energy converter 50 according to embodiments of the invention, at least one main power line 61 can be provided, configured to supply a main energy flow to at least one of the several functional modules 100 of the automation platform 1. Furthermore, at least one auxiliary power line 62 can be provided, configured to supply an auxiliary energy flow to at least one of the several functional modules 100 of the automation platform 1. The functional modules 100 can forward the energy flow to the components 110 of the system.

[0056] The automation platform 1 can further comprise at least one transformer element 85 configured to convert the electrical energy of the energy converter 50 for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. Alternatively or additionally, at least one inverter element 70 can be provided, configured to convert the electrical energy of the energy converter 50 for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. Both the transformer element 85 and the inverter element 70 can be part of the power supply device 40. Furthermore, the energy converter 50 can comprise a main energy converter 81 and an auxiliary energy converter 82.

[0057] The energy converter 50 according to Fig. 1 can comprise several interconnected fuel cell units 51 configured to jointly generate the electrical energy for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. Furthermore, according to Fig.2. A base module 10 is provided, to which the multiple function modules 100 can be modularly connected. The multiple function modules 100 can be electrically connected to components 110 of the automation system in order to provide modular control and / or monitoring of the automatic processes and / or the power supply for the components 110. Furthermore, the energy converter 50 can also be connected to the base module 10 in order to distribute the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow via the base module 10 to the function modules 100.

[0058] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention solely by way of examples. Naturally, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided this is technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Reference symbol list 1 Automation platform 10 Basic Module 20 Control unit 21 Coolant pump 30 Coolant connection 40 Power supply device 50 energy converters 51 fuel cells, fuel cell units 52 electrical interface 53 connections 54 Main power connection 55 Auxiliary power connection 57 media connections 61 Main power line 62 Auxiliary power line 70 Inverter element 81 Main energy converters 82 Auxiliary power converters 85 Transformer element 90 cases 91 Seal 100 Functional module 110 components QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2012 112 917 A1

[0004] DE 10 2016 118 613 A1

[0004] DE 10 2008 036 554 A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Energy supply device (40) for supplying energy to an industrial automation system, comprising: - an energy converter (50) for generating electrical energy, comprising an arrangement of one or more fuel cells (51) to convert chemical reaction energy into electrical energy, characterized by , that an electrical interface (52) is provided to provide an energy flow for at least one component (110) and / or for one or more functional modules (100) of the automation system based on the generated electrical energy, in order to provide the energy supply for the control and / or monitoring of automatic processes in the automation system through the energy flow. [2] Energy supply device (40) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the power supply device (40) further comprises: - a housing (90) with mechanical connections (53) for detachably attaching the power supply device (40) in the automation system, wherein the power supply device (40) is portable and / or mobile, preferably with a maximum weight of 20 kg, - Media connections (57) for supplying media, preferably hydrogen and oxygen, in order to generate electrical energy by the energy converter (50) on the basis of a chemical reaction of the supplied media, - at least one coolant connection (30), in particular for a cooling liquid, to provide heat extraction from the energy converter (50) to maintain a predetermined operating temperature, - at least one main power connection (54) of the electrical interface (52) for connection to a main power line (61) and / or at least one auxiliary power connection (55) of the electrical interface (52) for connection to an auxiliary power line (62) to provide the energy flow in the form of a main and / or auxiliary energy flow. [3] Energy supply device (40) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the energy converter (50) is configured as a fuel cell stack, in particular with an arrangement of bipolar plates and membrane electrode assemblies of the energy converter (50) arranged in series or parallel, wherein the energy supply device (40) further comprises: - an electronic control unit (20) to control the operation of the fuel cell stack, wherein the control unit (20) is configured to control the supply of the medium, preferably the hydrogen and oxygen supply, as well as the temperature of the fuel cell stack, and preferably to control a coolant pump (21) for temperature regulation in order to maintain the specified operating temperature. [4] Energy supply device (40) according to claim 3, characterized by that the housing (90) has at least one seal (91) and / or is made of an electrically insulating plastic and / or is made of metal to make the power supply device (40) watertight and dustproof for operation in the automation system, preferably with a protection class of IP54 or IP65 or IP67. [5] Automation platform (1) for an automation system, comprising: - a power supply device (40) with an energy converter (50) according to one of the preceding claims, - at least one main power line (61) configured to provide a main power flow to at least one of the several functional modules (100) of the automation platform (1), - at least one auxiliary power line (62) configured to provide an auxiliary power flow to at least one of the several functional modules (100) of the automation platform (1), wherein the auxiliary power flow comprises a lower electrical voltage and / or a lower electrical current than the main power flow, characterized by, that the power supply device (40) is designed to generate the electrical energy for the main power flow and / or the auxiliary power flow by means of the energy converter (50) in order to provide the power supply for controlling and / or monitoring automatic processes in the automation plant. [6] Automation platform (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that the automation platform (1) further includes: at least one transformer element (85) configured to convert the electrical energy of the energy converter (50) for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. [7] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the automation platform (1) further includes: at least one inverter element (70) configured to convert the electrical energy of the energy converter (50) for the main energy flow and / or the main energy flow. [8] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the electrical energy of the energy converter (50) corresponds to the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. [9] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the main energy flow comprises an alternating voltage of up to 1000 volts and / or a direct voltage of up to 1500 volts and / or an alternating voltage in the range of 70 volts to 1000 volts and / or a direct voltage in the range of 130 volts to 1500 volts, and preferably an alternating voltage of substantially 400 volts or a direct voltage in the range of 650 V to 700 V. [10] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the auxiliary power flow comprises an alternating voltage of up to 50 volts and / or a direct voltage of up to 120 volts and / or an alternating voltage in the range of 0.01 volts to 50 volts and / or a direct voltage in the range of 0.01 volts to 120 volts, and preferably a direct voltage of substantially 24 V or 48 V. [11] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the energy converter (50) comprises a main energy converter (81) and an auxiliary energy converter (82) and wherein the main energy converter (81) is configured to provide electrical energy for the main energy flow and the auxiliary energy converter (82) is configured to provide electrical energy for the auxiliary energy flow. [12] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the energy converter (50) comprises several interconnected fuel cell units (51) configured to jointly generate the electrical energy for the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow. [13] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the energy converter (50) comprises the exclusive or predominant energy supply for the automation platform (1). [14] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that a base module (10) is provided to which the several function modules (100) can be connected modularly, wherein the several function modules (100) can be electrically connected to components (110) of the automation system in order to provide the control and / or monitoring of the automatic processes and / or the energy supply for the components (110) in a modular manner, wherein the energy converter (50) can also be connected to the base module (10) in order to distribute the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow via the base module (10) to the function modules (100) for the energy supply. [15] Automation platform (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the multiple functional modules (100) can be connected to each other in a modular fashion, wherein the multiple functional modules (100) can be electrically connected to components (110) of the automation system in order to provide the control and / or monitoring of the automatic processes and / or the energy supply for the components (110) in a modular fashion, wherein the energy converter (50) can also be connected to the functional modules (100) in order to distribute the main energy flow and / or the auxiliary energy flow to the functional modules (100) for the energy supply.

Images