Alternative fuel service (AFS) ball valves

Swagelok, a leading supplier of fluid system components and services to the natural gas vehicle and other industries, launches new high- pressure, high-flow alternative fuel service ball valves

Swagelok Company, a leading supplier of fluid system components and services to the natural gas vehicle and other industries, launches new high- pressure, high-flow alternative fuel service ball valves.

With working pressures up to 6000 psig (413 bar) at 250degF (121C) and flow coefficients (Cv) ranging from 4.0 to 13.8, the AFS ball valve is currently the highest pressure valve on the market that meets the demands of many hydrogen and compressed natural gas applications.

The new 2-way ball valve is also the latest Swagelok product with ECE R110 approval for use in natural gas vehicles, including buses, lorries, and cars.

The valve holds Class 0 approval as a higher cycle manual valve for service pressures up to 250 bar (3625 psig) at temperatures up to 120C (248degF).

The high operating temperatures allow the valve, for example, to be placed closer to compressors and engines permitting a wider range of applications.

Additional features include an ultra low-temperature fluorocarbon O-ring material which provides highly reliable sealing across the full temperature range of the valve (-40 to 250F [-40 to 121C]); a robust, spring-loaded, patent-pending seat design which does not require packing adjustment after the valve is installed; and fractional and metric Swagelok tube fitting end connections providing gaugeable installation and consistent, leak-tight connections.

ISO and NPT end connections are also available, along with a heavy-duty quarter-turn directional handle, a Swagelok rack and pinion pneumatic actuator or an ISO 5211-compliant rack and pinion pneumatic actuator.

The valve has also received ANSI/NGV 3.1 service valve certification to 3600 psig (248 bar) and ANSI/NGV 4.6 Class B certification to 4500 psig (310 bar).

Swagelok Company has had products that meet ECE R110 approval for about two years and is the first company to provide comprehensive ECE R110 reference materials and documents.

"Swagelok has set out to offer a complete package so that end-users can reduce delays in documentation time and move quickly from the design phase to the marketplace," said Pete Ehlers, alternative fuel market manager, Swagelok Company.

Approved components can be used across all countries that recognise or require the ECE R110 standard.

The valves will be shown for the first time in Europe at the ENGVA Annual European NGV Conference, Italy, June 8-10.

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