The increasing role of hydrogen as an energy carrier brings with it new challenges in sealing technology. Various flat gasket materials from Klinger have successfully passed the tests of the DVGW certification program ZP 5123 for use in hydrogen applications and have been certified accordingly. This certification confirms the suitability of the products for use in environments with up to 100 percent hydrogen by volume.
“We are delighted that our products have now been assessed by the DVGW for this growing market. This confirmation gives our customers additional assurance that our sealing materials are reliable and safe when handling hydrogen. These certificates and our involvement in the certification program underline our commitment to advancing sustainable technologies,” says Stephan Piringer, Head of Product Development at Klinger Dichtungstechnik.
The recently introduced testing and certification program of the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW) focuses on the evaluation of gasket materials for hydrogen applications. The main objective of this program is to determine the specific leakage rate of gasket materials when used with hydrogen in order to ensure a targeted and informed selection of materials for specific applications.
Close cooperation with hydrogen experts
Klinger Dichtungstechnik played an active role in the development of the framework conditions for the DVGW CERT GmbH certification program. In cooperation with industry experts and the DVGW research center at the Engler-Bunte Institute of the KIT, a comprehensive evaluation method was developed to ensure the safety and efficiency of sealing materials in hydrogen systems.
The program is based on materials that have already received DVGW certification in accordance with DIN 3535-6. A key aspect of the program is the comparison of leakage rates between hydrogen and nitrogen, which allows a more accurate assessment of the suitability of the materials for hydrogen applications. In addition, the general material compatibility with hydrogen, methane, helium and nitrogen is tested in accordance with the material table in DIN EN ISO 11114-2.
In contrast to DIN 3535-6, however, no fixed limit value is defined for the H2-specific leakage rate. An additional material characteristic value, the H2-specific leakage rate, is determined without specifying a limit value. However, the results help to assess the behavior of the materials with regard to H2 applications.
