Electrolyser hall for green hydrogen production with rows of alkaline electrolysis stacks and pipework

Energy Sector

PFA-Lined Valves for the Energy Sector

Corrosion-Resistant Flow Control for Hydrogen Production, Battery Manufacturing, and Hydrocarbon Processing

The energy transition demands equipment that handles aggressive chemicals across emerging and established industries. From alkaline electrolyzers producing green hydrogen to lithium-ion battery manufacturing and traditional oil and gas processing, corrosive media define the operating environment.

GFT9 PFA-lined valves provide the chemical resistance essential for reliable operation in hydrogen production facilities, battery component manufacturing, and refinery chemical service. Our products handle the concentrated caustics, organic solvents, and corrosive acids that characterize modern energy production.

Manufactured in Germany, GFT9 valves support both the energy transition and conventional energy production where chemical resistance determines equipment reliability.

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Why PFA

Why Energy Sector Applications Require PFA-Lined Equipment

Energy production—whether conventional or emerging—involves aggressive chemical environments that exceed the capability of standard valve materials.

Green Hydrogen Production:

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) uses concentrated potassium hydroxide (KOH) electrolyte, typically 25-35% concentration at temperatures to 90°C. This hot caustic solution attacks stainless steel and many polymers. PFA and PTFE exhibit exceptional stability in contact with KOH at elevated temperatures, preventing impurity introduction that affects electrolyte performance.

The presence of oxygen in the electrolyte circuit creates additional challenges—combined caustic and oxidizing conditions that accelerate corrosion of conventional materials.

Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing:

Battery electrode manufacturing uses N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to dissolve PVDF binders for cathode slurry production. NMP is an aggressive solvent that attacks many seals and polymers. Electrolyte production involves lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆), which reacts with moisture to form highly toxic and corrosive hydrofluoric acid (HF).

PFA provides resistance to NMP and to hydrofluoric acid.

Oil and Gas Processing:

Refineries and gas processing facilities handle hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), hydrochloric acid from crude distillation, and amine solutions for gas treating. H₂S causes sulfide stress cracking in carbon and alloy steels. Concentrated HCl corrodes stainless steel rapidly. PFA provides resistance to both corrosive chemicals.

Why PFA Excels Across Energy Applications:

  • Resistance to the caustics, acids and solvents in the table below
  • HF resistance for battery electrolyte duty
  • No stress corrosion cracking unlike stainless steel in H₂S
  • Smooth PFA surface for high-purity service
  • Temperature capability: +200 °C Spheron9, Papilon9, Prohibron9 · +180 °C Imperium9 · +150 °C Vibron9, Purion9, Provaron9 · Membron9 per P-T diagram

Applications

Applications Across the Energy Sector

Energy sector applications span multiple process types, each requiring corrosion-resistant flow control. GFT9 products serve critical functions throughout these operations.

Alkaline Water Electrolysis (AWE) for Green Hydrogen

Alkaline electrolysers split water into hydrogen and oxygen with renewable electricity, using concentrated KOH (25-35% at up to 90°C) as electrolyte. PFA-lined valves serve the electrolyte circulation loops, the wet product-gas lines with entrained caustic, and make-up water and chemical dosing. Media, valve selection and project detail are on our dedicated hydrogen page.

Hydrogen and alkaline electrolysis →

→ Spheron9 ball valve, DN 15 – 200 · up to 16 bar · up to +200 °C · Imperium9 control valve, DN 15 – 100 · up to 16 bar · up to +180 °C · Prohibron9 ball check valve, DN 15 – 200 · up to 10 bar · up to +200 °C · Membron9 diaphragm valve, DN 15 – 150 · pressure per size, see P-T diagram · Papilon9 butterfly valve, DN 40 – 600 · 10 bar to DN 450, 6 bar DN 500 – 600 · up to +200 °C

Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing

Battery production involves multiple chemical handling stages. Cathode slurry preparation uses NMP solvent to dissolve PVDF binders. PFA-lined valves handle NMP transfer, mixing tank isolation, and coating line supply. Anode slurry systems similarly require chemical-resistant valve materials.

Electrolyte handling is particularly demanding. Lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF₆) in organic carbonate solvents must remain completely dry—moisture generates HF. PFA's moisture barrier properties and HF resistance make it suitable for electrolyte transfer and filling systems.

Solvent recovery systems concentrate and recycle NMP, requiring valves resistant to hot NMP vapor and condensate.

→ Spheron9 ball valve, DN 15 – 200 · up to 16 bar · up to +200 °C · Purion9 T-strainer, DN 25 – 150 · PN 16 · up to +150 °C · Provaron9 sample valve, DN 25 – 80 · up to 16 bar · up to +150 °C

Oil and Gas Chemical Service

Refineries and gas plants contain numerous corrosive streams where PFA-lined valves are used.

Crude unit overhead systems handle wet HCl formed from chloride salts in crude oil. This dilute acid service corrodes carbon steel rapidly and attacks stainless steel at elevated temperatures.

Amine treating systems use MEA, DEA, or MDEA solutions to remove H₂S and CO₂ from gas streams. Rich amine solutions containing absorbed acid gases are corrosive, particularly at regenerator temperatures.

Sulfuric acid alkylation units use concentrated H₂SO₄ as catalyst. Acid circulation, settler systems, and acid rundown require materials resistant to concentrated sulfuric acid.

Sour water stripping and spent acid regeneration handle dilute acids with H₂S—combined corrosion and sulfide stress cracking challenges.

→ Spheron9 ball valve, DN 15 – 200 · up to 16 bar · up to +200 °C · Imperium9 control valve, DN 15 – 100 · up to 16 bar · up to +180 °C · Vibron9 swing check valve, DN 40 – 400 · up to 16 bar · up to +150 °C · Provaron9 sample valve, DN 25 – 80 · up to 16 bar · up to +150 °C

Boric Acid Systems (Nuclear)

Pressurized water reactor (PWR) systems use boric acid dissolved in primary coolant for reactivity control. While high-temperature primary circuit components require specialized materials, auxiliary systems handling concentrated boric acid solutions benefit from PFA's acid resistance. Chemical volume and control system (CVCS) components, boric acid storage and transfer, and sampling systems are application areas.

Note: Nuclear applications require extensive qualification. Contact our engineering team with your qualification requirements.

Chemical resistance

Typical media and PFA resistance

MediumFormulaConcentrationMax. temp.Rating
Potassium HydroxideKOHUp to 50 %See valve P-T rating Excellent
N-Methyl-2-PyrrolidoneNMP (C₅H₉NO)Pure100 °C Excellent
Hydrofluoric AcidHFUp to 50 %100 °C Excellent
Sulfuric AcidH₂SO₄Up to 98 %120 °C Excellent
Hydrochloric AcidHClUp to 37 %120 °C Excellent
MonoethanolamineMEA (C₂H₇NO)Aqueous solutions (gas treating)80 °C Excellent

PFA lining resists the KOH electrolyte of alkaline electrolysers. For other media see the PFA chemical resistance guide. For hydrogen gas service, consult our engineering team; conductive PFA/AS lining is available for antistatic service. Temperature limits shown are conservative for continuous service; the valve's own limit is its P-T rating. Contact us for your media and conditions.

Excellent full resistance, continuous service · Good suitable for most applications · Limited check the conditions with us. Ratings refer to the PFA lining; the valve's own pressure–temperature rating also applies.

Products

PFA-Lined Products for Energy Sector Applications

PFA-Lined Ball Valves — Spheron9

PFA-Lined Ball Valves — Spheron9

Full-bore isolation with a one-piece PFA-lined ball-stem and two-stage blow-out protection; manual or actuated.

DN 15 – DN 200 / NPS ½" – 8" · up to 16 bar · −10 °C (1.0619) or −60 °C (1.4408 / 1.4409) up to +200 °C, see P-T diagram · TA-Luft leakage class BH (DN 10 – DN 150, certified −20 °C to +180 °C) · actuator mounting to EN ISO 5211 · clean room version with electropolished 1.4408 (CF8M) body.

View Ball Valve Range →
PFA-Lined Control Valves — Imperium9

PFA-Lined Control Valves — Imperium9

Globe control valves with PFA bellows stem seal for dosing and pH control — equal percentage or linear characteristic, V-plug rangeability 1:100.

DN 15 – DN 100 / NPS ½" – 4" · up to 16 bar · −60 °C up to +180 °C, depending on body material.

View Control Valve Range →
PFA-Lined Check Valves — Vibron9 and Prohibron9

PFA-Lined Check Valves — Vibron9 and Prohibron9

Swing check valves up to DN 400 and ball check valves up to DN 200 against backflow on pump discharges, transfer and dosing lines.

Vibron9: DN 40 – DN 400 · up to 16 bar · −40 °C up to +150 °C. Prohibron9: DN 15 – DN 200 · up to 10 bar · −10 °C up to +200 °C.

View Swing Check Valve Range →
PFA-Lined T-Strainers — Purion9

PFA-Lined T-Strainers — Purion9

T-strainers with PFA-lined body and removable PTFE basket protect pumps, control valves and instruments.

DN 25 – DN 150 / NPS 1" – 6" · PN 16 · −10 °C up to +150 °C · ETFE mesh 85 – 2000 µm.

View Strainer Range →

Quality

Quality Assurance and Documentation

  • Every valve is tested before delivery to DIN EN 12266-1.
  • EN 10204 3.1 material certificates with heat numbers.
  • Pressure-bearing products designed and manufactured to PED 2014/68/EU; the Spheron9 ball valve additionally certified under Module A2 with notified body 0035 and type-tested to TA-Luft (leakage class BH, DN 10 – DN 150, certified −20 °C to +180 °C).
  • Made in Germany · country of origin Germany.
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FAQ

Questions we are often asked

Where are lined valves used in hydrogen and battery production?

In the potassium hydroxide electrolyte circuits of alkaline electrolysers, in make-up water and chemical dosing, and in battery production for NMP transfer and electrolyte handling. Tell us medium, concentration and temperature and we check the lining.

PFA or PTFE lining — what is the difference?

Both are fully fluorinated plastics with almost universal chemical resistance. PTFE cannot be melted, so PTFE liners are pressed and sintered. PFA can be melted, so we transfer-mould it into the valve body: the lining is dense, anchored in the body and follows complex shapes. If your specification says "PTFE-lined", a PFA-lined valve meets the same chemical duty — ask us for a comparison for your medium.

Which documents come with the valves?

Every valve is tested to DIN EN 12266-1 and ships with EN 10204 3.1 material certificates. Pressure-bearing products are designed and manufactured to PED 2014/68/EU; the Spheron9 ball valve is additionally certified under Module A2 and type-tested to TA-Luft.

Which PFA-lined valve goes where in an electrolyser or battery plant?

Loop and transfer isolation: Spheron9 ball valve, DN 15 – 200, up to 16 bar. Dosing and pH control: Imperium9 control valve, DN 15 – 100. Pump discharges: Vibron9 swing check, DN 40 – 400, or Prohibron9 ball check, DN 15 – 200. Ahead of pumps and instruments: Purion9 T-strainer, DN 25 – 150.

Discuss Your Energy Sector Requirements

Whether you're developing green hydrogen infrastructure, building battery manufacturing capacity, or maintaining refinery chemical systems, our technical team supports your project.

We work with electrolyzer OEMs and system integrators, battery cell and component manufacturers, refinery and gas plant operators, EPC contractors and engineering firms, and chemical system integrators.

Contact Options:

Email: sales@gft9.shop
Phone: +49 2152 9148591

We provide chemical compatibility checks and application-specific recommendations, including conductive PFA/AS lining for antistatic service.

Related: Hydrogen and alkaline electrolysis · Mining and hydrometallurgy · Water treatment

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