Valve certified for hydrogen applications use

Multinational corporation Emerson has announced approval by testing, inspection, and certification company Bureau Veritas Italia of its BM6X Series Slam-Shut valve for use in applications with up to 100% hydrogen and pressures up to 100 bar.

The certification was achieved in December because of the commitment of Emerson and Bureau Veritas Italia to ensure suitable products are available for use in new hydrogen infrastructure. The certification granted to the Emerson BM6X Series Slam-Shut valve confirms the verification of material suitability, based on internal and external seal tests performed at the Emerson production plant in Castel Maggiore, Bologna, Italy.

Emerson is working with its customers to develop a hydrogen ecosystem. These efforts are an important focus of the European Union’s strategy on hydrogen, adopted in 2020, and of similar efforts in other countries and regions worldwide. Certifying key components, such as the Emerson BM6X Series Slam-Shut valve, is a critical step for these types of projects.

“The Bureau Veritas procedure, relating to the issue of Type Approval for hydrogen-operated actuators and valves, defines the audit process for the issue, maintenance and renewal of the certification for actuators and valves used with hydrogen or hydrogen mixtures,” says Bureau Veritas hydrogen technical manager Giuseppe Signoretta.

“This procedure supports the certification of products ready to be used in the hydrogen field, and it provides a suitable tool for the concrete implementation of the European plans for energy independence and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The collaboration between Emerson and Bureau Veritas demonstrates a concrete commitment to offer suitable and safe products for natural gas distribution networks,” adds Signoretta.

“To ensure product quality, safety and conformity, Emerson is collaborating with Bureau Veritas Italia, and it has developed internal procedures to assess the suitability of products to be used in gas infrastructure applications,” says Emerson pressure management research and development team standardisation and product engineer Oscar Bressan.

The Emerson BM6X Series Slam-Shut valve has multiple applications throughout gas transmission networks, regulating stations, and end-use infrastructure. For example, natural gas transmission and distribution companies can blend hydrogen into their distribution systems, reducing emissions when the blended mixture of hydrogen and natural gas is burned in homes. Industrial end-users can also reduce emissions by using a blend in their turbines.

“The Emerson procedures describe the requirements, tests, and inspection methods for metallic and non-metallic materials, as well as internal and external sealing necessary to use pressure control products in contact with natural gas and blended hydrogen, or pure hydrogen. After the first certification obtained, Emerson will continue to certify other equipment used in this rapidly developing market,” concludes Bressan.