There are several concerns regarding the use of hydrogen cylinders, especially safety concerns; this has raised the demands for safer alternatives in laboratories where hydrogen is needed for gas chromatography and a gas carrier. A hydrogen generator is a more superior alternative as it is more cost-efficient, safer, and convenient to use and store. 

Hydrogen generators are compact; they can be placed anywhere in a lab, unlike gas cylinders with their pipeline. Moreover, by using a hydrogen generator, you eliminate the risk of running out of hydrogen gas at an inconvenient time as it consistently provides pure hydrogen by using water as a raw material. To know more about hydrogen gas generators, visit thsenergy.com.

6 Advantages of Using Hydrogen Generators

The demand for hydrogen generators has increased exponentially over the last few years. Hydrogen gas is an essential raw material in a lot of sectors, such as the industrial sector, the agricultural sector, and the chemical sector. There are several advantages of using a hydrogen generator, some of which are;

Increased safety

Unlike high-pressure hydrogen cylinders, hydrogen gas generators provide greater safety. The outflow of hydrogen from the generator is slow; hence, it is less than likely you would encounter an explosion, and by comparing pressures, we notice hydrogen generators have lower pressure. 

Consistent supply of hydrogen

Gas cylinders run out after a while. In contrast, hydrogen gas generators provided a consistent supply of hydrogen, as long as there is water (present in abundance), which is the raw material in hydrogen production. Moreover, the time taken between removing, changing, and storing the cylinders is also eliminated when using a hydrogen generator.

Reduced Manpower

The use of gas cylinders for gas chromatography (GC) requires a lot of human resources to consistently check for leaks, change the cylinder, and maintenance. On the other hand, hydrogen generators either reduce or eliminate the need for manpower as multiple system alerts can be set to notify of any anomalies. 

Cost efficiencies

Since manpower is reduced or eliminated, the cost added towards wages is also reduced. Additionally, a hydrogen generator is a one-time investment, unlike gas cylinders that run out and need to be changed. Moreover, there are additional costs associated with using a gas cylinder even before they enter the site of use, which is majorly contributed by transportation cost. Most importantly, purchasing a hydrogen generator will bring a return on investment a few years down the line.

Eco-friendly

As mentioned previously, the gas cylinders need to be changed as soon as they run out, and new ones brought in ones the store stocks run low. When this situation occurs, transportation is needed to bring in a fresh batch of cylinders; this leaves behind a carbon footprint through the combustion of fuel used in the transport vehicles. 

100% pure outputs

Gas cylinders have fluctuations in the purity level from one cylinder to another; this can reduce the reliability in the gas chromatography systems whereas, hydrogen generators consistently provide hydrogen that is of a fixed level of purity (99.99%) throughout the supply cycle.

The Altistart 48 Soft Starter is designed by Schneider Electric to offer smooth torque-controlled acceleration and deceleration of a 3-phase asynchronous motor with sophisticated electronic soft start-soft stop and six thyristor power configuration. They are used for heavy-duty or standard applications. The Altistart 48 is equipped with a patented state-of-the-art motor control algorithm called Torque Control System (TCS). 

Without the need for speed feedback, the Altistart 48 soft starter offers continuous starting and stopping independent motor loading rates, similar to a costly AC drive. This technology has set a benchmark for soft starters that manoeuvres the applied motor torque for numerous applications compared to the traditional voltage ramp soft starter with the current limit. 

When it comes to pumping applications, the Altistart 48 soft starters use Torque Control Systems to remove the long start and stop times. It is also helpful in eliminating hydraulic transients, and the crashing of check valves related to pump version voltage ramp soft starts. Thanks to the high-performance algorithm of this technology, Altistart 48 soft starter can make a significant contribution to easy setup and its robustness. 

The Altistart 48 is ready for use in a standard duty application when it is supplied. All the devices are equipped with an in-built keypad display that can modify the configuration or adapt to respective customer’s requirements. 

Applications

Altistart 48 soft starters offer deceleration and soft starting functionalities, functions for communicating with control systems, and functions to protect machine and motor. These functions are designed for use in heavy-duty applications such as chemical industries, food and beverage, and buildings.

Some of its applications and related functions are listed below: 

• Pumps: They help control hydraulic transients by reducing pressure surges and valve surges. They also perform slow pressurization of fluid in lines. Additionally, they put less pressure on pipes and eliminate damage to irrigation spouts and filters, thereby reducing premature wearing of lines. This normal duty functionality also prevents overheating when the pump’s flow rate drops to a low level. 
• Conveyors: This is also a normal duty function that helps in reducing shocks and slipping of belts. It also offers underload control to identify breaks as well as overload control to isolate faults. 
• Fans & high inertia machines: Equipped with smoke extraction function, Altistart 48 soft starters can also detect overload caused due to clogging. It also helps in breaking torque on stopping. 

Functions

Here are some of the functions of Altistart 48 soft starters: 

• Consists of display terminal 2 are useful in modifying or programming the monitoring functions to customize the application as per the customer’s individual needs. 
• Offers consistent control of the torque supplied to the motor during acceleration as well as deceleration periods
• Option to bypass the starter using a contractor 3 at the end of the starting period while preserving the electronic protection. 
• Provides wide frequency tolerance for generator set power supplies
• Comes with built-in motor thermal protection
• Gives protection against underloads and overloads in a steady-state
• Monitoring of the start time

Altistart 48 soft starters are designed to present you with the advantages of patented Torque Control Systems (TCS). These systems are ready for immediate setup and come equipped with simple wiring as well as additional communication functions. It is effortless to integrate into your application with ease. Remember to first consult with an electrical professional and understand your unique requirements before making any electrical decision!