Sealing Expertise for Green Hydrogen

Most hydrogen that is produced today uses fossil fuels. Electrolysis is the only feasible option for producing green hydrogen: The process uses electricity to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen gas ions through an electrolyzer system. The hydrogen ions can be used as hydrogen fuel, or recombined with oxygen to create oxyhydrogen gas, which is used in industrial welding and other applications.

But with ambitious, industrial emissions goals quickly emerging, green hydrogen produced via electrolysis will triple in the years ahead, with the major transition starting in 2030, said Artur Mähne, global segment manager of Hydrogen Technologies for Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. “Many companies are now working on the manufacture of electrolyzers, the core of green hydrogen production. Along with established firms, we are seeing many new companies making their way into the market.”

Freudenberg’s engineers are currently working on gasket integrated electrolyzer plates for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) and alkaline (AEL) electrolyzers. Due to the differences in the electrolyte materials used in these systems – PEM systems use a solid electrolyte membrane of Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymers and AEL systems use a liquid electrolyte solution such as potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide and water, the facilities collaborate closely with customers to tailor gasket materials and adhesives for optimal performance in different types of electrolyzer systems. Concerns about pressure and temperature are not the only performance measures the engineers consider; corrosion resistance, stability, material breakdown and permeability are also closely matched to different electrolyzer environments. Here too, the sealing manufacturers fuel cell expertise comes into play by allowing its scientists and chemists to reference performance and compatibility testing between its materials and the hydrogen environment found in these smaller systems.

Freudenberg is continuing its pursuit of innovative sealing solutions for more green power and transportation applications and is pursuing other rubber-coated metal components for electrolyzers and other alternate power systems.

“Green hydrogen will play a significant role in reducing industry emissions, and we are taking whatever electrochemical electrolyzer environments that our customers bring us and helping them improve the longevity and performance of these systems using material expertise and advanced manufacturing,” Lidster concluded. “As our electrolyzer customers ramp up to meet demand, we are making the process easier for them with our products.”