In terms of gas analysing ZBT has a more than 15 years experience: The quality of hydrogen as fuel is defined in the international standards ISO 14687-2:2012 and EN 17124:2018. In these standards a broad list of impurities is defined with threshold values down to the ppb-level. Only a few independent laboratories worldwide are capable of measuring hydrogen in accordance to these standards.

Within the German Hy-Lab project, which is coordinated by ZBT, ZBT has built up a hydrogen quality laboratory and developed analytical methods with the capability to analyse the hydrogen quality according to these international standards. For calibration purpose a mass-flow-controller and a gas mixing pump based gas dilution system and methods for sample preparation and sample transfer have been developed.

With the analytical methods developed, ZBT is able to determine hydrogen quality according to EN 17124:2022. Furthermore, with the Hy-SaM, a CE-certified system for sampling at hydrogen filling stations was developed.

In several national and international projects, the Hy-Lab of the ZBT could establish itself as European Hydrogen Quality Laboratory and demonstrate its capacities in various interlaboratory tests (in R&D projects and for customers, such as Toyota). In addition, the ZBT is a reliable long-term partner for gas analyses of sulfur, natural gas and NH3, among others. For the conversion of the natural gas network and here in particular the transport lines to a hydrogen network, different methods for purification are developed. The validation is again carried out in the Hy-Lab.

• Hydrogen analysis according to EN 17124:2022
• Hydrogen sampling at LD HRS and other parts of the supply chain
• Analysis of sulphur species, Natural gas, Ammonia etc.
• Development, testing and qualification of analytic and sampling methods, method validation, online sensors, gas cleanup
• FC impurity investigation and material qualification
• Consultancy for analytic and sampling methods and laboratory set-up

• Analytic methods for hydrogen quality analysis according to EN 17124
• Method for sampling (Hy-SaM) at 700 bar LD HRS according to ISO 19880-1 and SAE J2601
• Method validation according to ISO 21087 ongoing
• Successful participation in several inter laboratory comparisons
• 4 test stands integrated for fuel cell impurity investigations and material qualification
• Extension of Hy-SaM for sampling at 350 and 700 bar (when hardware available) HD HRS (realisation in 2023-24)

Hy-Lab

ZBT's analytical laboratory for verification of H2 quality according to ISO 14687-2:2012
Hy-SaM - a new system for sampling at hydrogen refueling stations
learn more about Hy-Lab

HYDRAITE (2018-2021, EU H2020)

Further development of the analysis methods of the Hy-Lab, fuel cell contamination tests, investigation of regeneration strategies, analysis of contamination caused by maintenance work at hydrogen filling stations, test campaigns at filling stations and comparative measurements
learn more about HYDRAITE

H2Fuel (2019-2024, BMDV)

Pre-normative research to adapt the ISO standard for hydrogen dispensing quality at refueling stations, study the impact of several pollutant species on modern fuel cell systems
learn more about H2Fuel

MetroHyVe2 (2020-2023, EU EMPIR)

Comparison of European sampling methods
learn more about MetroHyVe2

H2-Cleanup (2021-2024, EFRE NRW)

Investigation of different metal hydride-based materials for their potential to remove impurities from hydrogen, determination of retention qualities and loading capacities.
learn more about H2-Cleanup

A Hydrogen sampling Module (Hy-SaM) has been developed for hydrogen sampling at HRS and other parts of the hydrogen supply chain: 

• CE certification
• Sampling according to ISO 19880-1 & SAE J2601
• No override of fueling protocol
• No COM interface, no usage of electronics
• Coated parts and cylinders
• Multiple sampling (up to three in parallel)
• 2,25 or 10 l sampling cylinders
• Optional combination with particulates sampling device

ZBT is closely cooperating with the Clean energy partnership (CEP) as external partner and the German H2 Mobility. Several sampling campaigns at HRS have been performed.

In addition to these German activities, ZBT has established a European network and is involved in several EU projects. Within Hydraite ZBT will be established as European hydrogen quality laboratory. Furthermore, in the EU project MetroHyVe2 methodological investigations for hydrogen metering, analysis, sampling and online analysis will be undertaken.