To support the use of the climate-friendly energy source hydrogen, Hengst has developed a modular system of various filtration solutions for fuel cells. At Hydrogen + Fuel Cells in Hanover (April 17-21, 2023), the filtration and fluid management specialist will be presenting products for Coolant and air filtration as well as a Water separator for anode recirculation in the field of system integration.

Innovations from Hengst at Hydrogen + Fuel Cells in Hanover

"To protect our planet, CO₂-neutral drives are essential. That's why we at Hengst are working on filtration solutions for hydrogen-powered vehicles and generators. The result of our innovation and many years of international experience: high-performance ion exchangers, cathode air filters and Water separators for fuel cells," summarizes Product Manager Mathias Diekjakobs. At Hydrogen + Fuel Cells in Hanover, he and other Hengst experts will be presenting the modular solutions and demonstrating customized options.

Ion exchanger Blue.iox ensures a rapid reduction of the initial ion concentration in the coolant circuit

During the operation of a fuel cell, ions are introduced into the Coolant. These result from the ageing products of the Coolant itself or from components in the cooling circuit. Effective filtration is therefore necessary to ensure the safe operation of the fuel cell. The innovative Ion exchanger Blue.iox from Hengst offers a particularly high level of protection with minimal maintenance. The unique design of the filter cartridge with axial filter flow and the special mixed bed resin system for cation and anion exchange ensure high filtration efficiency over the entire service interval. The ion concentration in the coolant circuit is thus reduced very quickly.

Hengst offers various sizes in its modular program and thus addresses the requirements of smaller systems as well as fuel cell systems for heavy-duty, stationary and maritime applications. In addition to standard solutions, Hengst's core competence lies in system integration, which is also used to develop customized ion exchanger concepts. In addition, the Blue.iox from Hengst is designed for easy handling: A screw cap allows the filter cartridge to be changed cleanly without special tools, while integrated shut-off valves prevent Coolant from escaping.

Cathode air filter system for drive safety even under harsh operating conditions

The air path of a fuel cell also places special demands on filtration. In order to ensure a long service life and high performance, the intake air must be cleaned very effectively of particles in the outside air. In addition, pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) can cause unwanted deposits in the fuel cell and damage it. A specially developed cathode air filter system from Hengst with a multi-layer structure reliably protects the fuel cell components from particles and harmful gases.

Different filtration systems can be implemented depending on the requirements and area of application. For example, highly effective particle filtration can be applied directly with gas filtration in a combination medium. For higher dust absorption requirements, a pleated particle filter medium is placed upstream of the gas filtration as a separate filter stage. The areas of application for the Filter systems range from trucks and buses to the on- and off-highway segment, stationary systems and industrial applications. Hengst focuses on the robustness and simple servicing of the filters.

Correct water management as a central component to avoid liquid water deposits

Correct water management is crucial in order to avoid liquid water deposits and thus ensure the long-term effective operation of the fuel cell. The solution from Hengst: a new type of separator module for anode gas recirculation. It combines the function of drip water separation and gas drainage with an innovative valve configuration of the purge and drain valve. Particularly integrative approaches are the strength of the filtration expert.