DEHNconcept planning service for hydrogen electrolysis systems

Hydrogen is a key component of the energy revolution and is therefore attracting more and more attention from industry. This chemical element is more flammable than other gases, however, and there is a high risk of explosion when handling it. For this reason, system operators are obliged to develop and implement a comprehensive protection concept.

A comprehensive protection concept includes external lightning protection, earthing/equipotential bonding and surge protection. When it comes to surges and lightning strikes, Ex zones and Ex system components must be taken into account and protected. 

In order to be able to determine and minimise the hazards and consequences of direct and indirect lightning strikes, the two technical rules TRGS 751 and TRGS 723 are definitive. A lightning protection concept protects potentially explosive areas in zones 0 and 1 as well as parts of an installation that can be struck directly by lightning. Examples of this are vent stacks, chimneys, aboveground tanks and pipelines.

With the planning service DEHNconcept, a lightning protection concept for electrolysers was created for the FEST Group.Components of the planning of such a concept are a risk analysis, a 3D plan of a lightning protection/earthing system, as well as the planning of the surge protection. The basis for this is the risk analysis according to DIN EN 62305 Part 2 – Risk Management. This determines the class of LPS with which the risk potential of structures is assessed.

The "LPL II" class of LPS was calculated for the installations of the FEST Group, on the basis of which a 3D plan was prepared. By using the rolling sphere method, the air-termination rods were precisely positioned to produce a protected volume for the system.

For effective system protection, a holistic approach was required. The external lightning protection system was therefore supplemented with a coordinated surge protection concept. All power and data cables and conductors leading into the building from outside were taken into consideration here. With the DEHNplan software licence, the FEST Group can also expand plans in the future, integrate additional parts of the installation and reposition air-termination rods accordingly.