Control systems integration: The hydrogen hub backbone

Integrated (SCADA and distributed / embedded) controlsTo design a seamless operating system, a control systems integration plan needs to be developed in the early hub planning stages and not an afterthought. The systems integrator or integrators must take existing network architecture into consideration, as well as plan adequately for future expansion because hub development will roll out in stages and continue to expand.In order to get an accurate depiction of what is happening across an entire hydrogen hub, the control system should supervise electrolyzers and other hydrogen generation units, monitor pipeline activity, control electrochemical fuel cell interface with the power grid, and interface with safety instrumented systems (SIS). This means data from PLCs, DCS and SIS systems will all converge to a central location with the help of remote/SCADA systems. Advanced applications…

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