Data acquisition and monitoring system framed in Industrial Internet of Things for PEM hydrogen generators
Francisco Javier Folgado, Isaías González, Antonio José Calderón
Abstract
Hydrogen is an energy carrier with increasing relevance in the current energy scenario since it contributes to reduce fossil fuels dependence and carbon emissions for a sustainable development. For its generation, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) technology uses water and electricity to produce hydrogen and oxygen, avoiding pollutants. In this paper, a novel data acquisition and monitoring system for PEM hydrogen generators is presented. The main magnitudes of the PEM electrolyzer (PEMEL) such as current, voltage, pressure, hydrogen flow, etc., are sensed and acquired by an industrial controller. A middleware layer gathers the measurements through a communication network and stores them in a database. The user accesses online to this information in real time through a web-based interface. All components and functions are orchestrated according to an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) architecture, integrating industrial equipment, IoT software and sensing devices, which constitutes a novelty in literature. Experimental data of a PEMEL under real operating conditions are reported to prove the feasibility and successful performance of the developed system.