Hydrogen

Efficient hydrogen production relies on durable components. Water entering the electrolyser system faces potential contamination from metal ions in metallic piping and ions and organics from the electrolyser stack, threatening the electrolyser’s lifespan. Our plastic solutions prevent ion leaching, avoiding system degradation and corrosion while maintaining low conductivity values. Committed to excellence, we utilize accredited in-house testing facilities and expert knowledge to meticulously select polymer materials, ensuring uncompromised project quality.

Prioritizing operational safety, we provide lifetime verification, on-site QA/QC, and client installation support. Our performance materials leverage the intrinsic chemical resistance of polymers, offering reliable solutions for transporting diverse media such as potassium hydroxide (KOH), glycol water, and liquid ammonia. Using high-quality polymer materials, we mitigate technical risks in hydrogen transportation, including hydrogen embrittlement and leakage through hydrogen-induced cracks in steel.

Plastic piping systems have a lower carbon footprint than metal solutions due to their longevity and maintenance-free quality, significantly reducing repair needs and overall costs. At GF Piping Systems, we assist new customers daily in transitioning from metal to plastic, providing support throughout every project phase, from planning to commissioning and operation. Continuous life cycle assessments, validated by third-party evaluations like Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), confirm the environmental performance of our systems, making them an ideal choice for sustainable construction projects.

Elevate your hydrogen system with our premium services, including comprehensive planning for customized retrofitting and efficient design using advanced 3D engineering solutions. Our services feature stress analysis for effective thermal expansion management, ensuring prolonged service life. We offer robust simulations and calculations, such as flow evaluations, velocity determination, chemical resistance review, and precise sensor calibration assessments. These examples represent a short glimpse of the diverse services we can provide.

Utilizing plug-and-play solutions, innovative jointing technologies and pre-fabrication methods all help to reduce on-site project and operation lead times. Global sourcing and accelerated installation processes further contribute to a substantial reduction in time to market.

Our global presence allows us to serve customers worldwide, ensuring easy access to our solutions through our extensive network. With operations in over 31 countries and 36 production facilities, GF Piping Systems guarantees consistent quality and technological expertise. We provide comprehensive project support at every stage, aiming for construction excellence and minimizing time to market.

Piping systems are needed in all applications along the hydrogen value chain. So our solutions, which range from pipes, fittings and valves to measurement and control technology, are part of the whole journey. Across all these areas, piping systems transport various media with a wide variety of temperatures, pressures and flow rates. In the field of production, we cover desalination plants, water treatment and electrolyzers, and we offer solutions for fuel cells, transport pipelines and hydrogen storage. 

The demand from electrolyzer manufacturers is exceptionally high seeking to enhance equipment longevity and efficiency, recognizing plastic piping systems as a corrosion- and maintenance- fee solution.

The implementation of  the polypropylene piping solution PROGEF presents numerous advantages over traditional metal piping systems, particularly in applications that necessitate high water purity, such as in hydrogen production. The following key points underscore the advantages of PP piping systems: 

• Due to the low leach-out from the PP material into the transported ultrapure water, the external contamination factors with certain plastics such as PP-H or PVDF are significantly minimized.
• In addition to the optimized leach-out factor, other materials such as ECTFE can also be used with highly challenging fluids such as hot potassium hydroxide solution (KOH) under certain conditions.

These properties make polypropylene (PP) welded systems an optimal choice for applications where water purity is critical, highlighting its role in enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production processes.

GF Piping Systems assists customers with switching from metal to polymer piping by offering comprehensive support for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. 

• Global Presence
  You want to produce and qualify your design in different regions - we can support you. No matter where your project is realized, you will receive support. With a presence in more than 31 countries and 36 production sites, we ensure global support and fast response times to help you achieve outstanding design results and reduce time to market. 
• Expert Guidance
  We offer expert guidance throughout the entire project lifecycle, employing over 60 years of plastic expertise to ensure tailored and effective solutions.
• Efficiency and Speed
  Installation of polymer systems is up to 50% faster thanks to advanced jointing technologies, reducing potential operational disruptions. We provide a complete package from design to implementation, featuring state-of-the-art planning tools, exceptional training, and precise testing for optimal system performance. This approach makes the transition both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
• Comprehensive support with engineering services
  We support you in your design with hydraulic dimensioning, stress calculations for different occasional peak loads, and static verification for the conversion from metal to plastic. We also take a closer look at the support concept and make suitable suggestions for your installation to ensure long-term operational reliability. 
  
  We also offer customizing and prefabrication. Many of our customers order pre-assembled modules that only need to be mechanically connected together. Access our 3D libraries here.

Detailed information about our 100% hydrogen-compatible product range, including specifications and certification details, can be found in our declaration documents in the download section of this page. These certificates provide customers with comprehensive assurance that GF Piping Systems’ coupler ranges are fully equipped to meet the demands of hydrogen distribution. They confirm that the products have undergone rigorous testing and meet stringent safety and performance standards, making them a reliable choice for integrating into hydrogen infrastructure.

GF Piping Systems has received certifications from renowned bodies such as KIWA and DBI. These certifications are a testament to our commitment to quality and safety in hydrogen applications.

• KIWA: KIWA is an independent organization that provides testing, inspection, and certification services. They specialize in ensuring that products and processes meet international standards of quality, safety, and performance. KIWA's rigorous testing procedures for hydrogen compatibility include assessing material resistance to hydrogen embrittlement, permeability, and long-term durability under hydrogen exposure.
• DBI: The DBI (Gastechnologisches Institut gGmbH Freiberg) is an independent group of companies organised by DVGW e.V. and deals with topics along the entire value chain from gas production, storage, transport/distribution through to the efficient and environmentally friendly use of renewable energy sources. With H2ready, testing regulations are presented that can be applied to the supply of natural gas-hydrogen mixtures or pure hydrogen, following the safe and successful supply of natural gas and the standards applicable to it. This aims to document the high quality of the products and their suitability.
  
  Click here to learn more about our 100% hydrogen-ready product range.