Electrolysis system and methods for diagnosing an electrolysis system

Abstract

The presented invention relates to an electrolysis system (100) for converting energy, wherein the electrolysis system (100) comprises: - a large number of identical modules (101), - a central computing unit (103), - a variety of user interfaces (105), wherein each module (101) of the plurality of identical modules (101) is assigned a respective user interface (105) of the plurality of user interfaces (105), wherein the computing unit (103) is communicatively coupled with all modules (101) and is configured to execute a diagnostic program for a module (101) assigned to the respective user interface (105) in response to an activation of a respective user interface (105) and to output a result of the diagnostic program to the module (101) assigned to the respective user interface (105) on an output unit (107).

Description

[0001] The presented invention relates to an electrolysis system, a method for diagnosing an electrolysis system and a program product according to the attached claims. State of the art

[0002] In modular electrolysis systems with multiple identical modules, such as electrolysis cell stacks, diagnostic programs are used to detect faults in the electrolysis system. However, such diagnostic programs are usually run across the entire electrolysis system and are therefore complex to use.

[0003] In particular, assigning a potentially detected error to a specific module is difficult. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] Within the scope of the presented invention, an electrolysis system, a method for diagnosing the electrolysis system, and a software product are introduced. 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 method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the electrolysis system and the software product according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention is always, or can always be, mutually referenced.

[0005] The invention presented here serves in particular to provide a means for the quick and easy diagnosis of a module of a modular electrolysis system.

[0006] Thus, according to a first aspect of the presented invention, an electrolysis system for converting energy is presented.

[0007] The presented electrolysis system comprises a multitude of identical modules, a central computing unit, and a multitude of user interfaces, wherein each module of the multitude of identical modules is assigned a respective user interface of the multitude of user interfaces, wherein the computing unit is communicatively coupled with all modules and is configured to execute a diagnostic program for a module assigned to the respective user interface in response to an activation of that user interface, and to output a result of the diagnostic program to the module assigned to the respective user interface on an output unit.

[0008] In the context of the presented invention, a computing unit is to be understood as a computer, a processor, a control unit or any other programmable circuit.

[0009] The presented invention is based on the principle that each module of the electrolysis system is assigned a specific user interface through which a diagnostic program specific to the assigned module can be executed. Accordingly, the results determined by the diagnostic program can be directly assigned to the respective module, i.e., output together with, for example, an identification number corresponding to the respective module.

[0010] The assignment of a particular module to a particular user interface can, for example, be stored in memory in the form of an assignment scheme.

[0011] Furthermore, the user interfaces provided according to the invention enable simple and quick activation of the diagnostic program, so that even untrained personnel can activate a diagnosis of a respective module.

[0012] It may be provided that each module comprises a separate stack of electrolysis cells.

[0013] The diagnostic program provided according to the invention can in particular be configured to diagnose a fault in an electrolysis cell stack of a module of the presented electrolysis system.

[0014] It may also be provided that the computing unit is a central server configured to virtually map each of the multitude of user interfaces and, upon activation of a virtual image of a respective user interface, to execute a diagnostic program for a respective module that is assigned to a user interface mapped by the activated virtual image.

[0015] A central server, particularly a so-called "cloud server," enables control of the electrolysis system from a central workstation, which may be located remotely from the individual modules of the electrolysis system. Accordingly, diagnostics of the electrolysis system, or selected modules thereof, can be performed virtually via the server. For this purpose, the server can display a graphical user interface, such as a "web end," on a screen, allowing the user to control the electrolysis system, especially its individual user interfaces.

[0016] It may also be provided that the diagnostic program is configured to detect the state of a given module and output it to the output unit.

[0017] To determine the state of a given module, the diagnostic program can read operating parameters of the module, such as the voltage applied to the electrolysis cell stack and / or volume flows of the respective operating media from a control unit of the module, and check these with a predefined evaluation logic.

[0018] In particular, the condition may include: location, fault frequency, age, operating curves, a predetermined operating strategy, similar faults of the electrolysis system or other electrolysis systems, and / or load curves planned for the future.

[0019] The evaluation logic can include a fixed, predefined evaluation scheme and / or a machine learner.

[0020] Accordingly, it may also be provided that the diagnostic program includes a machine learner that is trained on historical data of the electrolysis system to detect and report any deviation of the respective operating parameters of the electrolysis system from normal operation.

[0021] By training on historical data, which is labelled, for example, according to a predefined basic truth, the machine learner can be robustly trained to detect a deviation from the operating parameters of a respective module.

[0022] In the event that the machine learner detects an error, i.e., a deviation of the respective operating parameters of the electrolysis system from normal operation, a corresponding error message can be reported or output on an output unit, such as an error memory.

[0023] It may also be provided that the computing unit includes a ring buffer and is configured to temporarily store historical data and current data of the respective operating parameters of the multitude of modules in the ring buffer.

[0024] A ring buffer allows historical data to be continuously stored for analysis by the diagnostic program. Overflow of the ring buffer is prevented by continuously overwriting the oldest data.

[0025] It may also be intended that the numerous user interfaces are designed as buttons.

[0026] A button can be easily and quickly activated or operated, especially by untrained personnel, to perform a diagnosis of a respective module. Each button can be located on its corresponding module, thus establishing a spatial correlation between the relevant diagnostic data and the respective module.

[0027] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a method for diagnosing a possible embodiment of the presented electrolysis system.

[0028] The presented procedure includes activating a respective user interface from the multitude of user interfaces, executing the diagnostic program for a respective module assigned to the respective user interface in response to the activation of the respective user interface, and outputting a result of the diagnostic program to an output unit.

[0029] According to a third aspect, the presented invention relates to a program product, wherein the program product comprises program code means that configure a computing unit to execute a possible embodiment of the presented method when the program product is executed on the computing unit.

[0030] 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.

[0031] They each show schematically: Fig. 1. A representation of a possible configuration of the presented electrolysis system, and Fig. 2. A possible design of the presented procedure.

[0032] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an electrolysis system 100 for converting energy.

[0033] The electrolysis system 100 comprises a large number of identical modules 101, such as electrolysis cell stacks, a central computing unit 103 and a large number of user interfaces 105, with each module 101 having a corresponding user interface 105 in the form of a button.

[0034] The computing unit 103 is communicatively coupled with all modules 101 and is configured to execute a diagnostic program for a module 101 assigned to the respective user interface 105 in response to the activation of that user interface 105, and to output a result of the diagnostic program to the module 101 assigned to the respective user interface 105 on an output unit 107.

[0035] Accordingly, by pressing one of the user interfaces 105, a user receives a diagnostic report only for the module 101 on which the user interface 105 is located.

[0036] In Fig. 2 is a method 200 for diagnosing the electrolysis system 100 according to Fig. 1 shown.

[0037] The procedure 200 includes an activation step 201 in which a respective user interface 105 of the multitude of user interfaces 105 is activated.

[0038] Furthermore, the procedure 200 includes an execution step 203, in which the diagnostic program for each module assigned to the respective user interface is executed in response to the activation of the respective user interface, and an output step 205, in which a result of the diagnostic program is output on an output unit.

Claims

[1] Electrolysis system (100) for converting energy, the electrolysis system (100) comprises: - a large number of identical modules (101), - a central computing unit (103), - a variety of user interfaces (105), wherein each module (101) of the plurality of identical modules (101) is assigned a respective user interface (105) of the plurality of user interfaces (105), wherein the computing unit (103) is communicatively coupled with all modules (101) and is configured to execute a diagnostic program for a module (101) assigned to the respective user interface (105) in response to an activation of a respective user interface (105) and to output a result of the diagnostic program to the module (101) assigned to the respective user interface (105) on an output unit (107). [2] Electrolysis system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by, that each module (101) comprises a respective electrolysis cell stack. [3] Electrolysis system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the computing unit (103) is a central server configured to virtually map each user interface (105) of the multitude of user interfaces (105) and, upon activation of a virtual image of a respective user interface (105), to execute the diagnostic program for a respective module (105) that is assigned to a user interface (105) mapped by the activated virtual image. [4] Electrolysis system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the diagnostic program is configured to detect the state of each module (101) and output it to the output unit (107). [5] Electrolysis system (100) according to claim 4, characterized by, that the condition includes: location, fault frequency, age, operating curves, a predefined operating strategy, similar faults of the electrolysis system (100) or other electrolysis systems (100), and / or load curves planned for the future. [6] Electrolysis system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the diagnostic program includes a machine learner which is trained on historical data of the electrolysis system (100) to detect and report any deviation of the respective operating parameters of the electrolysis system (100) from normal operation. [7] Electrolysis system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the computing unit (103) includes a ring buffer and the computing unit (103) is configured to temporarily store historical data and current data of the respective operating parameters of the multitude of modules (101) in the ring buffer. [8] Electrolysis system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the numerous user interfaces (105) are designed as push buttons. [9] Method (200) for diagnosing an electrolysis system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the method (200) comprises: - Activating (201) one of the many user interfaces (105), - Executing (203) the diagnostic program for each module assigned to the respective user interface (105), in response to the activation of the respective user interface (105), - Output (205) a result of the diagnostic program on an output unit (107). [10] Program product, wherein the program product comprises program code means that configure a computing unit to execute a method (200) according to claim 9 when the program product is executed on the computing unit.

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