SISTO Armaturen S.A. got the contract to supply valves for a pilot electrolyser in Herne, Germany. The company, which is part of the KSB Group, has supplied pneumatically actuated diaphragm valves and swing check valves.

The diaphragm valves from the SISTO-20 type series are ideal for the electrolyser that is currently being constructed, which works on the proton exchange membrane principle (PEM). Only the inside of the valve body and the confined diaphragm come into contact with the fluid handled. Thanks to the diaphragm’s rear support, the valves from this type series have a long service life.

8 MW pilot plant needs valves

The SISTO swing check valves handling deionised water are completely rubber-lined on the inside. They enable a highly compact system footprint due to the short flow stabilisation distances requiring the length of the valve’s nominal diameter only. The diaphragm valves and swing check valves have proven their effectiveness in numerous electrolysis plants around the world.

In a joint project by the name of H2annibal, Evonik and Siemens Energy are planning to produce green hydrogen in an 8 MW pilot plant in Herne. The green hydrogen will serve as a source material for isophorone diamine. It is an important raw material for wind turbine rotor blades. It will replace grey hydrogen from fossil sources. The plant is expected to save up to 12,000 tonnes of CO2 per year after commissioning.