What does the AMELHy project involve? How did this platform come about ?

Frédéric Claude : The AMELHy project was initiated by SEGULA to meet a specific need: to be able to validate an entire hydrogen system for light mobility (such as drones, for example) without resorting to large installations. At our premises in Brognard, near Montbéliard, we therefore set up a room measuring around 50 m², bringing it into line with the requirements for hydrogen use, with a high level of safety but without excessive investment. This test bench provides a secure, functional and perfectly sized environment for carrying out all the necessary operations.

What do you think are the most innovative features of this platform?

F.C. What makes this platform unique is that there was nothing else like it on the market until now! In general, you either find very small models or large installations that are costly and complex to operate, both in terms of energy and time. AMELHy sits between the two, offering a more compact, reasonable and quicker-to-implement intermediate solution. Another unique feature is its comprehensive nature. With AMELHy, the entire system can be tested, from the tank to the fuel cell and then to the converter, in the same environment. Finally, it is not just a test bench, but a real ecosystem: we have designed a dedicated room and produce our own hydrogen using an electrolyser. This process makes us self-sufficient in filling the tank and testing our systems under real conditions.

What was SEGULA’s role in the design and implementation of AMELHy?

F.C. We designed, developed, manufactured and installed it, and we now operate it on behalf of our customers but also for our own needs. The local team in Brognard covers all the necessary disciplines: electronics, electricity (including the design of electrical cabinets), control systems, mechanics, IT, integration and safety.
This multidisciplinary work has resulted in a complete and operational test bench. We have had extensive discussions with UTBM (Université de Technologie de Beflort Montbéliard) and its FC Lab laboratory on certain aspects, particularly for the second version of the test bench, in order to draw on their expertise and testing infrastructure. We also called on specialist consultants to ensure compliance with standards, suppliers for key components, and experts to certify the complete test bench.

The digital twin is at the heart of the project: what is its role, and how does it interact with the physical components of the platform?

F.C. Our fuel cell system has an associated digital twin. This allows us to refine the modelling to reproduce the system in the event of a fault. We are also currently working on model reduction using artificial intelligence. Our approach covers the entire chain: test benches, fuel cell systems, cooling, hydride-based tanks for solid storage, and we are beginning to study liquid storage. The challenge is to accurately model the behaviour of each component and the entire system.

 Research and Development Team

What types of players could benefit from this test platform in practical terms?

F.C. The AMELHy platform is aimed at any company (or local authority or organisation) wishing to integrate a fuel cell into a system, whether it be drones, rolling platforms or other mobile applications. For example, we have already been approached by a company developing tanks and are working with another company on converting an airship to hydrogen for aeronautical applications.

What does the future hold for AMELHy?

F.C. We are now working on version 2 of the test bench (which has already been certified) in partnership with UTBM: the idea is to upgrade the test bench from 3 kW to 15 kW, or even more, to cover higher power ratings. This upgrade could enable its use in the road sector (heavy and light quadricycles, 2- and 3-wheel vehicles, handling vehicles, and small utility vehicles), the naval sector (pleasure craft, tourist boats), the aeronautical sector (motor gliders, airships, drones) or for stationary applications, for example to replace fuel-powered generators with fuel cells.

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