Interface Solutions For Growing Green Energy

Converting to renewable energy is one of the primary tools to fight climate change. Storage of energy is critical to make renewables work, and hydrogen, or its derivatives are a promising way to store power. Electrolyzers convert power to hydrogen, and fuel cells convert the hydrogen back to electricity. They are both made by stacking multiple anode and cathode plates and a membrane between each, and tie-rods hold them in place. A real-time monitoring system is needed to measure the tension of the tie rods in order to avoid costly preventive and unplanned maintenance shutdowns. Interface suggested installing LWHP Precision Load Washer Load Cells connected to WTS-AM-1E Wireless Strain Bridge Transmitter Modules, under the bolts of the tightened tie rods. The WTS-AM-1E’s are encased in a junction box enclosure. The LWHP’s measure the tension between the plates from the tie rods, and the real-time results are transmitted wirelessly from the WTS-AM-1E’s to the WTS-BS-6 Wireless Telemetry Dongle Base Station when connected to the customer’s PC. Interface’s load cell monitoring system successfully monitored the tie-rods tension in real time, thus preventing unnecessary costly preventive maintenance and unplanned shutdowns of the electrolyzer.

Interface is highly experienced in working with organizations in the energy industry, both traditional and alternative, supplying force measurement solutions. We understand the unique requirements of green energy and have developed a widening line of products uniquely suited for these innovations. We’ve recently worked with multiple types of components for electric vehicles including batteries, engines and more, as well as with alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and hydrogen power. Interface brings the accuracy and reliability, in addition to having an expert engineering team that can quickly develop customized solutions. Interface solutions are cost effective and can often end up saving critical dollars in the long run. Take for example a recent case study we developed in which we outlined our role in harnessing hydrogen power using an electrolyzer. In this case, force sensors were used to significantly reduce downtime by creating an automated monitoring system that replaced regularly scheduled maintenance that was often unneeded but caused downtimes. And with that process came significant losses in energy and money. Interface helped to create an autonomous monitoring system that reduced downtime and ultimately estimated the customer would break even on their investment on the force monitoring system in one year.

A customer wanted to improve the performance of a wind turbine by adjusting the blade pitch and measure the torque generated as power ramps are studied. Interface provided a T2 Ultra Precision Shaft Style Rotary Torque Transducer coupled between the wind turbine blade propeller and electric generator. Information was sent to customer’s Data Acquisition System (DAQ). Using this solution, the customer was able to use torque data to determine the optimal blade pitch for the wind turbine and the wind turbine will generate more power and with less stress on the bearings

A solar panel manufacturer wanted to test the strength and durability of their solar panels. Solar panels should be able to withstand objects and other debris flying 50 mph during storms and other kinds of weather. Interface suggested installing four SSB Load Beam Load Cells to the bottom four corners of the customer’s solar panels, connected to a JB104SS Junction Box and a WTS-AM-1E Wireless Strain Bridge Transmitter Module. Drop tests of items with different weights are conducted, and the maximum load capacity was reached, the results were displayed, graphed, and recorded with the WTS-BS-4 Wireless Base Station connected to the customer’s PC. Interface’s SSB Load Beam Load Cells successfully measured the amounts of force their customer’s solar panels were able to take during their drop test.