H₂News: Mr. Bogar, who exactly is Pressure Control Solutions (PCS), and what are you working on?

Matthias Bogar: PCS specializes in high-precision pressure control technologies. We develop and manufacture advanced pressure control solutions for demanding process applications, with a strong focus on the hydrogen sector. Our mission is to push the boundaries of conventional pressure control.

For hydrogen applications, this means creating safe, efficient, and scalable systems through highly precise and reliable pressure management.

H₂News: Why do you focus on the hydrogen sector—specifically, green hydrogen?

Bogar: We recognized early on that green hydrogen would play a central role in the energy transition. In 2019, we began adapting our technologies to meet the requirements of electrolysers and fuel cells. This step was not driven by trends, but by specific questions from our customers—particularly regarding pressure stability, membrane protection, and gas purity.

Hydrogen systems operate in a demanding environment characterized by high pressure, high dynamics, and tight tolerances—an environment in which conventional control solutions often reach their performance limits. It is precisely in this gap that our core competence lies.

H₂News: What advantages do your DOM-controlled pressure regulators offer compared to conventional valve solutions for electrolysis applications?

Bogar: Our DOM-controlled pressure regulators offer high control stability and response speed. Unlike conventional mechanical valves, which often suffer from hysteresis and sluggish control response, they reliably maintain a constant pressure even during rapid system changes. This is crucial for protecting sensitive components such as electrolyzer membranes in the stack while ensuring stable and efficient gas separation.

In addition, production gases often have complex compositions—for example, hot water vapor, oxygen, and hydrogen. In alkaline systems, KOH aerosols or condensate may also enter the gas stream. Our dome-controlled inlet pressure regulators are specifically designed for these conditions. Their robust construction and the use of suitable materials such as stainless steel, Hastelloy, or Monel ensure reliable operation even in highly demanding chemical and thermal environments.

H₂News: Laut Ihrer Website erreichen Ihre Regler bei 50 bar eine Regelgenauigkeit von <0,1 % bei Druckdifferenzen von nur 10–100 mbar. Können Sie erläutern, wie das möglich ist?

Bogar: The dome-controlled pressure regulators use a direct-sealing diaphragm. This virtually frictionless design enables stable regulation—regardless of load changes, as well as during startup and safety shutdowns. Even significant fluctuations in the gas production rate can be compensated for without overshoot or oscillation, ensuring that the differential pressures in the stack remain stable.

When used in combination with the EQ-DA series, a closed-loop control system with up to three external sensors can be implemented—at a sampling rate of up to 2.5 measurements per millisecond. This data is processed in real time by our proprietary control algorithms, enabling fast and highly precise adjustments.

The EQ-DA Pro Controller. © Pressure Control Solutions

H₂News: How does this protect electrolyzer membranes?

Bogar: In alkaline electrolyzer systems, stack membranes can be very sensitive to imbalances in the transmembrane pressure differential. An excessively high pressure differential can lead to gas contamination and, as a result, to degradation or even damage to the membrane.

The EQ-DA’s fast response time and high control resolution ensure that the pressure across the diaphragm remains stable—even during start-up, shutdown, or load fluctuations. This minimizes mechanical stress and significantly extends the service life of the diaphragms.

H₂News: What other products do you offer besides electrolyzer solutions for the hydrogen industry?

Bogar: We also offer a wide range of other solutions for the hydrogen industry. These include applications such as pressure control in fuel cell test benches, reactor pressure control in LOHC processes, and solutions for fuel injector test benches. In addition, we address demanding applications such as cryogenic pressure control and pressure control in ammonia cracking processes. In addition, we provide solutions for flow control of deionized water and steam control in gas humidifiers. We also have experience in the field of temperature control—for example, in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis for the production of e-fuel products.

H₂News: What hydrogen-specific certifications and safety standards do your products meet?

Bogar: In the area of quality management, ISO 9001:2015 serves as the foundation for our hydrogen applications. For mechanical design and pressure systems, our solutions meet the requirements of ASME B31.3—including design, testing, and hydrostatic validation.

In addition, our products are suitable for use in hydrogen-filled areas at risk of explosion as simple devices in accordance with ATEX 2014/34/EU—provided they are installed properly. With regard to European compliance, our solutions fall under the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and are therefore within the scope of application for hydrogen as a Group 1 fluid.

When it comes to the materials we use, we rely on materials such as 316/316L, CF3M (1.4409), Hastelloy, Monel, titanium, and zirconium, which are characterized by their proven resistance in hydrogen environments. In addition, we offer oxygen purification, which is required in certain hydrogen and oxygen systems.

H₂News: What R&D investments is PCS making in next-generation electrolyzer technologies?

Bogar: We are making targeted investments in the further development of our software, particularly in adaptive control algorithms that incorporate multiple system variables—such as temperature, flow rate, and pressure differentials—into an integrated control strategy. These approaches make it possible to dynamically adapt the control behavior to changing operating conditions and to specifically account for complex system interactions. This makes the EQ-DA even more versatile and robust for use in next-generation electrolyzer stacks.

H₂News: How has demand for hydrogen solutions evolved in recent years, and what are your expectations for the future?

Bogar: Demand for hydrogen solutions has risen significantly in recent years, particularly in Europe and Asia. We are seeing growing interest from both established energy companies and technology-driven startups.

Looking ahead, we expect a clear trend toward modular and scalable system architectures. These increasingly require intelligent and tightly integrated control solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. The EQ-DA is designed precisely to meet these requirements.

H₂News: Where do you see the biggest technical challenges in pressure control for the hydrogen industry?

Bogar: One of the greatest challenges in pressure control for hydrogen applications is maintaining highly precise control under high-pressure and highly dynamic conditions—particularly in systems with cyclic operation or wide load ranges, such as those encountered when energy availability fluctuates widely during periods of low sunlight and low wind. Added to this is the need for long-term reliability in chemically and mechanically demanding environments, which places high demands on materials and system design.

Our focus is on specifically addressing these challenges—and thereby laying the foundation for stable, efficient, and scalable hydrogen systems through further developments in sensor technology, control logic, and the selection and design of materials.

H₂News: Mr. Bogar, thank you very much for the interview!