Revolutionizing the Hydrogen Market: Design Innovations Leading the Charge

By CPC-Cryolab's Stan Levandowski and Ryan Felsenthal, Liquid Hydrogen and Helium SMEs.

While the CV8BS may not be a new design, its significance and reliability in the market make it a cornerstone in safety and preventing fugitive emissions, particularly in microelectronic and hydrogen applications.

With meticulous attention to detail, the CV8BS features a bellows seal design that effectively prevents leakage through the stem, even for the smallest molecules, such as hydrogen. This innovation addressed a critical need in industries where the containment of gases is essential.

The CV8BS's initial design traces back to the government-funded Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) project of the 1990s. Amidst intense competition, CPC collaborated with design engineers from the SSC to understand and fulfill the stringent project specifications for helium liquefiers. During this time, CPC built thousands of liquid helium valves, more than any other valve supplier at one time in history. This collaboration demonstrated CPC's technical expertise and led to the successful qualification of the bellows seal through rigorous testing procedures, ensuring unmatched reliability.

Over the years, CPC-Cryolab's commitment to excellence has remained steadfast. With over 1M cycles of linear and rotational testing yielding zero failures, our bellow seal valves are a testament to our dedication to quality and innovation. As the microelectronics era transitioned into the commercialization of hydrogen, CPC-Cryolab adapted to meet the industry's evolving demands.

With the emergence of commercial hydrogen applications, a need arose for lightweight and economical valves without compromising on the quality that the market has become accustomed to. The merger between CPC and Cryolab in 2000 facilitated the development of the CV8BS, a lightweight valve with bellows seal technology that ensures zero leakage for hydrogen applications. This milestone solidified CPC-Cryolab's position at the forefront of the industrial revolution in hydrogen, providing valves for liquid applications and essential components supporting the hydrogen ecosystem.

About CPC-Cryolab

Founded in 1961, CPC-Cryolab, Tampa, FL, has been a leader for more than six decades in the engineering, design, manufacturing and supply of vacuum-jacketed filters, valves, hoses, piping systems, manifolds and transfer connections for use in mission-critical industrial-gas and cryogenic applications that feature the handling, transfer and storage of liquid hydrogen (LH2) and helium. For more information on CPC-Cryolab and any of its products and services, please visit cpc-cryolab.com.

About OPW Clean Energy Solutions OPW Clean Energy Solutions was formed in December 2021 when OPW acquired both ACME Cryogenics and RegO® Products. Since then, the company has continued to expand its reach as a supplier of clean-energy fluid-handling equipment and systems, most notably with the acquisitions in 2024 of Demaco, Marshall Excelsior Company (MEC) and SPS Cryogenics/Special Gas Systems (SPS-SGS). ACME is a leading provider of mission-critical cryogenics products and services that facilitate the production, storage and distribution of cryogenics liquids and gases. RegO is a leading provider of highly engineered flow-control solutions for the cryogenic and liquified-gas end markets. Demaco specializes in the development of vacuum-insulated piping solutions for the cryogenics industry. MEC and its subsidiaries CPC-Cryolab, BASE Engineering, Inc., and Xanik develop and supply mission-critical flow-control products and solutions for the LNG, LH2, helium and anhydrous ammonia (NH3) markets. SPS-SGS is a manufacturer of vacuum-insulated pipeline systems for use in the handling of a wide array of industrial gases. Together, they are taking OPW beyond conventional fueling solutions and helping define what’s next for alternative energy markets. For more information on OPW Clean Energy Solutions, please visit opwces.com.

About OPW

OPW is defining what’s next through innovations designed to enhance safety, reliability, efficiency and business performance for the clean energy, propane energy, fluid-handling and vehicle wash industries. OPW has manufacturing operations in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific, with sales offices around the world. OPW is part of Dover Corporation. To learn more about how OPW is defining what’s next in each of its markets, please visit opwglobal.com.

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