Benefits of the Blistance Series

Developed specifically for applications in the hydrogen environment.
Highly durable O-rings capable of handling high pressure will accelerate the development of the hydrogen infrastructure.

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  Highly durable O-rings that
  prevent hydrogen leakage

  No concern about blister occurrence even at high pressure

  Conventional O-rings used as sealing parts for high-pressure hydrogen may cause internal fracture (blister fracture) of rubber materials when high-pressure hydrogen gas is rapidly depressurized, which leads to hydrogen leakage. To prevent blister fracture, which is the biggest bottleneck of O-rings, we have repeatedly conducted tests under various conditions with different temperature, pressure, and contact targets, and finally found the optimal formulation of materials. As a result, our products achieve extremely high durability as a sealing material for high-pressure hydrogen, for which repeated and rapid pressure fluctuation is required.

  Sulfur-free material

  Fuel cells may be affected by sulfur. Since sulfur causes a decline in the catalyst performance of fuel cells, our product is manufactured without sulfur, to ensure fuel cell life.

[Reference] Examples of blistering



The pictures above are examples of internal breakdown (blistering) of the rubber materials caused by rapid pressurization and depressurization of high-pressure hydrogen gas. Blistering is a serious issue because it can cause hydrogen leakage.

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  Low temperature property:
  Tolerant up to -60℃

  FCV technology increasingly being introduced in commercial vehicles

  FCV technology is attracting attention for use in trucks, which carry cargo and travel long distances. In addition, it is considered to be easy to install hydrogen stations in a mode of mobility that travels within fixed areas, such as a bus, making it more likely that hydrogen can be successfully introduced. Major automobile manufacturers and related companies have started to develop FC commercial vehicles and the hydrogen supply infrastructure.

  -60℃ tolerance is essential for hydrogen tanks and related equipment

  When the introduction of FCVs in commercial vehicles accelerates, a need for equipment that can be used in the hydrogen environment will arise. When hydrogen is rapidly filled into high-pressure hydrogen tanks installed in FCVs, the temperature rises rapidly. To avoid that, hydrogen must be cooled in advance by a pre-cooler. However, sealing components tend to deteriorate in severe low temperatures and hydrogen leakage attributable to O-rings being damaged has been a concern. Therefore, we have strengthened the cold-temperature resistance of our product to the maximum.
  Even high-performance O-rings had only been previously able to tolerate temperatures of up to -40℃. However we have conducted repeated physical property tests, and developed Blistance O-ring, which is capable of tolerating a hydrogen environment of -60℃. Thus, a wider range of applications is now possible, including dispenser hoses and nozzles at hydrogen stations in addition to high-pressure hydrogen tanks, valves, piping, and joints in FCVs.

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  Valqua is a Japanese corporation with a 97-year history.
  Reliable track record in the development and sales of industrial sealing products

  Track record of introducing Valqua O rings globally

  Founded in Osaka in 1927, Valqua began as a manufacturer of automobile parts and has since significantly expanded its scope of business, including the manufacture of synthetic rubber packing and joint sheets for aircraft. Today, with high-performance sealing products like O-rings as its core products, the company’s technologies and expertise accumulated over 90 years are used in various plants, industrial machinery, transportation equipment, housing facilities, etc. around the world. From the ocean to outer space, Valqua’s products are there to prevent any “leakage.”

Product introduction

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  Blister-resistant seal products that can be used in high-temperature and high-pressure environments “BLISTANCE®-HHT”
  (Hydrogen High Temperature)

  “BLISTANCE®-HHT” is a sealing product that can be used in the vicinity of the compressor, where the temperature can rise to close to 200℃, and does not generate blisters even in a high-pressure hydrogen gas environment of under 90MPa.

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  Blister-resistant seal products that can be used in low-temperature and high-pressure environments “BLISTANCE® HLT II”
  (Hydrogen Low Temperature II)

  “BLISTANCE® HLTII” is a product which satisfies the requisite properties in the hydrogen market, which is a temperature range of -40 to 85℃. Hydrogen gas can be sealed even in an environment of 0⇔87.5 MPa. In comparison with “BLISTANCE® HLT”, which was launched in 2020, this product has improved low temperature properties at -40°C or lower.

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  Blister-resistant seal products that can be used in low temperature and high-pressure environments “BLISTANCE® HULT II”
  (Hydrogen Ultra Low Temperature II)

  “BLISTANCE®HULT II” can work as a sealing material even at -60℃, which is even lower than the durable temperature range of up to -40℃ by BLISTANCE® HLT II, which was launched in 2022. This is a seal product that does not generate blisters even in a high-pressure hydrogen gas environment of 90MPa.

Introduction of VALQUA Blistance Series Achievement

Extensive track record in China,
where hydrogen infrastructure is being developed

In China, where the world’s largest hydrogen demand exists,
the industrial supply chains for hydrogen energy and fuel cell vehicles are under active development.
Valquaʼs O-rings have been adopted in the competitive Chinese hydrogen market, where we boast approximately 70% market share, and this achievement speaks volumes about the product’s high quality.

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  Application 1: Transportation curdle and accumulator

  ■Seal specifications (conditions of use)

  Curdle pressure :

  20Mpa/45Mpa Fluid: Hydrogen
  Operating temperature range: -40℃ to 85℃

  Pressure :

  45Mpa/98Mpa Fluid: Hydrogen
  Operating temperature range: -40℃ to 85℃

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  Application 2: Compressor for hydrogen station

  ■Seal specifications (conditions of use)

  Pressure :

  20Mpa/45Mpa Fluid: Hydrogen
  Operating temperature range: 200℃ 〜 (Max 300℃)

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  Application 3: High pressure piping and joints for FC system on FCV (FCV on-board system)

  ■Seal specifications (conditions of use)

  Pressure :

  35Mpa/70Mpa Fluid: Hydrogen
  Operating temperature range: -40℃ to 85℃

User’s Voice

• User’s Voice 1

  

  We selected this product because there was no hydrogen leakage during high-pressure and low-temperature environment testing. Seals tend to shrink under low temperature conditions, so the low-temperature properties of elastomers is very important.

• User’s Voice 2

  

  We decided to adopt this product because the selection of seals, groove dimensions, etc. proposed by Valqua met our requirements, and the products passed cycle tests and exposure tests using high-pressure hydrogen.

• User’s Voice 3

  

  A shorter delivery time was possible compared to other sealing products provided by foreign companies, which enabled us to expedite our development schedule.

Solution

Valqua’s hydrogen O ring will bring
a difference to your business

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  Solution.01 Reduction of hydrogen leakage risk
  Improvement of safety

  Thanks to the low temperature properties capable of handling -60℃, our products prevent rubber blistering even in a high-pressure hydrogen environment.
  By addressing the most critical concern – the risk of hydrogen leakage – and supporting a safe hydrogen facility environment, we contribute to the establishment of the hydrogen value chain.

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  Solution.02 Less frequent replacement leads to cost reduction.

  This product has been so well accepted in China, which is the country with the largest demand for hydrogen. A major factor is that its high durability reduces the frequency of replacement and it also results in the reduction of running costs.
  Now that rising prices are becoming more serious concerns, inquiries for this product are increasing even further.

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  Solution.03 Mitsui & Co. Group has expertise in the hydrogen field.

  Mitsui & Co., a Japanese global trading and investment company, has long-standing business experience in the hydrogen field, including a hydrogen energy development project in New Zealand and capital participation in a Norwegian hydrogen tank development company. Utilizing its know-how and the extensive network of Mitsui oversea offices, we are working together with Valqua to introduce its Blistance Series in the global market.