Year: 2023

Oliver Twinsafe Trunnion Mounted valves and Floating Ball Valves have successfully been SIL certified at level 3. This new and important milestone provides operators with safety assurances at the highest level and has resulted from many months of engineering design, QA reviews, and audits.

 

A SIL (Safety Integrity Level) is a measure of safety system performance, in terms of probability of failure on demand (PFD). The higher the SIL level, the higher the associated safety level, and the lower probability that a system will fail to perform properly. SIL 3 is the highest rating that can be given to a valve.

 

High Integrity Pressure Protection Systems (HIPPS) and remotely located well-head manifolds are normally associated with SIL certification. Operators are to gain additional safety assurances from installing our ball valves, in that, when the valve is required to perform its fail-safe function, the probability of it not performing is extremely low.

 

SIL 3 certification has been awarded by Exida, a third-party safety assessment organisation. The certification covers our range of Single Isolate valves, and Double Block and Bleed valves comprising two separate isolates within the assembly. Bore sizes for Trunnion Mounted valves range from 1” – 16” and 1” – 3” on Floating Ball valves.

Oliver Hydcovalves, established in 2021, is dedicated to supporting clients and end users in their pursuit of sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. As part of the renowned Oliver Valve family of companies, we draw upon over 40 years of manufacturing expertise, enjoying a strong global reputation and recognition on many Approved Vendor Lists (AVLs).

Over the past two years, Oliver Hydcovalves has allocated significant resources to extensive research, aiming to understand the unique effects of hydrogen on various materials. With the advantage of an in-house metallurgy department and a state-of-the-art research and development facility, we have successfully refined and redesigned “conventional” valves, making them well-suited for hydrogen fueling applications.

Hydrogen, being a volatile gas, presents substantial risks, especially to the integrity of materials. Consequently, selecting the appropriate materials is crucial to ensure optimal valve performance. Hydrogen embrittlement, a phenomenon where hydrogen atoms infiltrate the metal lattice, resulting in brittleness and eventual cracking, poses significant safety hazards and environmental risks, particularly in critical components like valves.

While the visual changes we have made may appear subtle, they were deliberate decisions aimed at maintaining visual familiarity with valves that have been in the field for many years. Our goal is to ensure that our product reputation remains recognisable and, consequently, trusted by our clients.

Oliver Hydcovalves has worked closely with the well-renowned third-party testing body TUV, to type test our Hydcovalves products with 99.9% hydrogen. In fact, Oliver’s was the first valve manufacturer to successfully qualify a valve at TUV with hydrogen. Additionally, our collaboration with Dupont has led to the development of a patented sealing technology widely recognized as industry-leading for fugitive emission control.

A common question we receive is, “What is the difference between a ‘conventional valve’ and a valve suitable for hydrogen?”

The key distinctions between a standard “conventional” valve and a valve suitable for hydrogen applications lie in the materials of construction, the sealing technology and the qualification tests. Oliver Hydcovalves works closely with seal manufacturers to ensure the seals are suitable for the application and then tests the products through a range of tests to simulate them in service conditions to prove product performance.

At Oliver Hydcovalves, we prioritize safety and exceptional performance in hydrogen applications. Our meticulous material selection process, combined with our innovative sealing technologies, guarantees reliable operation and safeguards against potential risks. We take pride in delivering valve solutions specifically tailored to meet the unique challenges presented by hydrogen applications, and in particular for hydrogen fuel stations.

With our extensive experience and expertise in the hydrogen industry, we are proud to have a robust reference list of successful hydrogen projects that we’ve supported such as, hydrogen transport and hydrogen gas pipeline. These projects serve as tangible evidence of our commitment to delivering reliable valve solutions and our ability to meet the unique requirements of diverse hydrogen applications.

Our valve products have been meticulously designed with hydrogen and carbon capture technology to cater to a wide range of applications. Whether you are involved in hydrogen transportation and refueling, purification, storage, blending, fuel cells and electrolysers, or heating and cooling systems, we have the right valve solution to meet your specific needs.

If you have any further inquiries or require additional information, please contact us. We are committed to providing you with the highest level of expertise and assistance.

 

Oliver Hydcovalves is excited to be suppling a large number of its PN16 flanged single isolate ball valves to Hydrogen production projects in the North of England.

The advancement of hydrogen technology presents an exciting solution to the world’s future energy needs, and the reliance on safe and reliable ancillary products such as valves to facilitate the transition is as critical now than ever before. This is where Oliver Hydcovalves is leading the charge. Energy industries and OEMs are investing heavily in hydrogen applications, and it will require more large-scale production and storage facilities to help meet the growing appetite for hydrogen, and make it an efficient and affordable fuel source for industrial and domestic use. The production of hydrogen is achieved through methods such as steam reforming, gasification, or electrolysis. These methods separate the elements into various compounds, producing the usable H2 molecules.

For more information on how Oliver Hydcovalves can supply your hydrogen production with the very best valve solutions, contact them on +44 (0)1565 632 636 or email sales@valves.co.uk | www.valves.co.uk

Oliver Hydcovalves have announced the design and manufacture of three new valves for hydrogen transportation and refuelling. Using high performance polymer bearings and seals in partnership with DuPont™, valves have been qualification tested to 102,000 cycles of operation while maintaining a fugitive emissions leakage class of BH.

Another unique feature of the valves is their full-bore design. This avoids restrictive flow, which appears to be a common problem in many valves on the market. Nick Howard, Engineering Director at Oliver Hydcovalves stated; “By maximising the flow rate, it will deliver a more continuous and consistent flow of hydrogen medium. This will allow for hydrogen fuel to be dispensed and refilled onsite much more quickly, which will deliver dramatic time-saving benefits.”

As the world continues to move towards sustainable energy sources, hydrogen is emerging as the promising fuel option for vehicles and industrial transportation on land, sea, and air. The transporting and dispensing of hydrogen fuel in working environments such as fuel stations and onsite fuel storage facilities, require specialist valves that have been designed and engineered for continuous high cycle operative use and meet the requirements of ISO 19880-3.

When dispensing hydrogen fuel onsite, it generally requires a large area to be closed off while in progress, and can even involve a whole site closure, dependent on size of area. Therefore, the time it takes to dispense hydrogen fuel is crucial. Oliver’s full-bore valves deliver hydrogen much faster than other transportation valves that have a restrictive flow. This significantly reduces the downtime at a site, and in most cases, can be halved – minimising disruption to the forecourt and business operations.

Hydrogen fuel is stored and transported using pressurised tanks. Therefore, it’s of paramount importance that valves can handle extreme pressures too. Since 1979, Oliver has been synonymous with valve safety and reliability, even relied upon by the world’s largest energy producers, suppliers, and end-users for its precision engineered solutions. As Oliver’s company mantra suggests ‘Reliability Under Pressure’, they’re well-positioned to provide the necessary assurances required.

This latest engineering achievement firmly places Oliver Hydcovalves at the forefront for hydrogen transportation valves. Built to the highest specifications using premium quality materials, and tested to the highest standards, it’s logical to see how Oliver’s claim to offer the best valve solution for hydrogen transportation and refuelling applications, certainly holds up.

Bore sizes include; 10mm, 14mm and 20mm. To learn more about hydrogen transportation and for guidance on hydrogen specifications, applications, qualifications and pricing, contact Oliver Hydcovalves on +44 (0) 1565 632636 or visit their website at: www.valves.co.uk

Oliver Hydcovalves attends the North West Hydrogen Alliance conference in Liverpool.

As part of the UK’s first Hydrogen Week, the North West Hydrogen Alliance brings together local, regional and national stakeholders to discuss the significant progress the North West has made in hydrogen delivery.

The Hydrogen event is held in a perfect location, at The Spine, Liverpool, which is on-course to be the most eco-friendly workspaces in the UK.

Global Business Development Manager, Lewis Porter, who is representing Oliver Hydcovalves at the event said “As an established valve manufacturer already in the hydrogen space, I’m looking forward to gaining insights from policy makers and business investors from across the hydrogen sector. We hope to share our experience with others on how we’re manufacturing Large Bore and Instrumentation Valves that have been tested and certified by a third-party using 99.9% hydrogen.”

To hear more about our Hydrogen journey and how we’re providing valve solutions for the refuelling stations and transportation services, contact Lewis Porter on +44(0)1565 632 636, email sales@valves.co.uk or visit the website at www.valves.co.uk