PFA-Lined Control Valves for Green Hydrogen Production

Project Reference: 29 Actuated Control Valves for European Electrolyzer Facility

In November 2025, GFT9 completed delivery of 29 PFA-lined pneumatic control valves for a large-scale green hydrogen production facility in Northern Europe. The project demonstrates our capability to deliver precision flow control equipment for the demanding requirements of alkaline water electrolysis systems.

Project Overview

The end user operates a pioneering green steel facility that uses hydrogen—produced on-site via alkaline electrolysis—to replace coal in the steelmaking process. This approach eliminates the carbon emissions associated with traditional blast furnace operations, representing a significant step toward industrial decarbonization.
The hydrogen production system utilizes alkaline water electrolysis with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as the electrolyte. This proven technology requires components capable of withstanding continuous contact with concentrated caustic solutions at elevated temperatures—a requirement that made PFA-lined valves the specified solution.

Delivery Scope

Technical Requirements

The valves were specified for service in the electrolyte circulation and process control systems of the hydrogen production plant. Key technical requirements included:

Chemical Compatibility: Full resistance to potassium hydroxide (KOH) solutions at concentrations up to 30% and temperatures up to 90°C. The PFA lining ensures zero metal ion contamination of the electrolyte, maintaining system efficiency and electrolyzer membrane life.

Pressure Equipment Directive Compliance: All valves manufactured in accordance with EU Directive 2014/68/EU (PED) with Module A2 conformity assessment. TÜV Rheinland provided production quality assurance oversight (Notified Body ID: 0035).

Actuator Integration: Pneumatic actuation using ARCA 812 series actuators (MFI, MFII, and MFIII models depending on valve size). Configurations included both air-to-open (AFO) and air-to-close (AFC) fail positions to meet process safety requirements.

Surface Protection: External coating to C4 corrosivity category per ISO 12944-2, using a Jotun paint system (Jotamastic 87 primer + Hardtop XP topcoat) with minimum 210 µm dry film thickness. This protects the carbon steel bodies in the humid, potentially corrosive plant environment.

Quality Assurance and Testing

Each valve underwent comprehensive testing and inspection to verify conformance with project specifications:

Spark Testing: 100% of PFA-lined surfaces tested at 15 kV to verify lining integrity. All 29 valves passed with no defects detected.

Pressure Testing: Shell and seat testing performed per DIN EN 12266-1. Seat leakage tested to Rate A (bubble-tight) requirements using dry air/nitrogen at 6 bar.

Coating Inspection: Dry film thickness measurements on all external surfaces, confirming minimum 210 µm achieved across all valves.

Witness Testing: Customer representatives attended witness testing at our Kempen facility on November 14, 2025. All 29 valves were approved for delivery following successful demonstration of test procedures and documentation review.

Documentation Package

Hydrogen projects require comprehensive documentation for safety compliance, operational records, and regulatory requirements. GFT9 provided a complete documentation package including:

Material Certificates: EN 10204 Type 3.1 certificates for all pressure-retaining materials with full heat traceability.

Test Reports: Individual spark test, pressure test, and coating inspection reports for each valve.
Declarations of Conformity: EU Declaration of Conformity per PED 2014/68/EU, provided in both English and Swedish.

Service Manuals: Comprehensive installation, operation, and maintenance documentation in English and plant native language.

Technical Drawings: Dimensional drawings for all valve sizes, plus 3D STEP models for engineering integration.

Digital Valve Passports: Each valve received a unique QR code providing instant access to its complete documentation record. This digital passport system enables plant operators to retrieve certificates, test results, and maintenance information directly from the installed equipment throughout its service life.

Supporting the Hydrogen Economy

This project demonstrates GFT9's capability to support the growing green hydrogen sector with high-quality, fully documented valve solutions. As alkaline electrolysis scales up to meet industrial decarbonization targets, the demand for reliable, corrosion-resistant flow control equipment continues to grow.

Our experience with KOH-resistant PFA lining, combined with established relationships with actuator suppliers and comprehensive quality management systems, positions GFT9 as a capable partner for hydrogen project developers, EPC contractors, and equipment integrators.

Discuss Your Hydrogen Project Requirements

Contact our technical team to discuss valve specifications for your electrolyzer or hydrogen processing application.

Email: sales@gft9.shop
Phone: +49 2152 9154990
Website: https://www.gft9.shop/pages/pfa-lined-valves-hydrogen-electrolysis