Bürkert, the specialist in liquid and gas flow control, has launched a range of valves designed to control ultra-high pressure flows for hydrogen infrastructure applications. The product range includes solenoid and process valves that can regulate hydrogen up to 1,000 bar, making them suitable for network infrastructure and vehicle refueling stations. The valves are designed for a long service life and meet all safety requirements necessary for hydrogen infrastructure.
The valves are designed for high-pressure hydrogen applications such as compression, storage and transportation. The range comes into its own when, following hydrogen production by electrolysis, the gas needs to be compressed for storage or transportation. Bürkert’s new product range can also control the supply of hydrogen to vehicle filling stations.
Solenoid valves
The solenoid valve series for ON/OFF control consists of one direct acting valve and two servo auxiliary valves. The direct acting valve type 6080 opens and closes without the aid of a medium flowing through the valve and can be operated from 0 barg. It can handle pressures up to 900 bar and is available with opening diameters of 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm.
The types 6480 and 6481 servo auxiliary valves help open and close based on the pressure difference across the valve. The type 6480 requires a pressure difference of 5 bar, whereas the 6481 requires a pressure difference of 1 bar. The type 6480 servo piston valve can regulate hydrogen flows up to 1,000 bar and is available with an orifice of 8 mm. The type 6481 is suitable for hydrogen pressures up to 450 bar and is available with orifice diameters from 12 mm to 50 mm.
The valve achieves higher switching cycles and longer maintenance intervals thanks to a special coating on the wetted components that extends the service life.
Bürkert’s new product line for ultra-high pressure hydrogen applications also includes the pneumatically operated process valves type 2111 and type 2121 for on/off control. Type 2121 is available with opening diameters from 12 mm to 50 mm and can handle hydrogen up to 600 bar. Type 2111 is available with opening diameters of 4 mm and 8 mm and can handle hydrogen up to 1,000 bar.
Process Valves
Process valves provide a high degree of dynamic sealing due to the dynamic sealing ring on the spindle. Designed for reliable and long service life, the valves feature a robust one-piece design that minimizes wear. In addition, the stainless steel construction makes them highly resistant to hydrogen embrittlement and the moving parts under pressure have additional finishing. All valves in Bürkert’s new product series for ultra-high pressure hydrogen applications are fitted with compliance tests to ensure safety. The valves are designed to withstand twice the specified hydrogen pressure and all valves in series production are tested at 1.5 times the operating pressure. To prevent leaks, all valves in series production are tested at 5 x 10-5 mbar l/s. At the same time, durable materials such as titanium-reinforced 316Ti stainless steel prevent hydrogen embrittlement.
Rigorous design and testing requirements ensure that the valves meet ISO 19880-3 for gaseous hydrogen refuelling stations. It covers the requirements and test methods for the safety performance of high pressure gas valves used in hydrogen filling stations up to the H70 mark. The valves also comply with the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU and achieve ATEX Zone 1 IECEx Cat. II for use in potentially explosive areas.