The initial ESA Divisional meetings were held in January, during which several ongoing projects were reviewed, and new initiatives were established.
Packings Division
The CEN Packing Standard has entered the enquiry phase, with the document currently being translated into French and German. Progress is also being made on ISO WIP 12101 “Classification system and qualification procedures for type testing of stem seals for valves” with the Division actively involved; the document has reached the FDIS stage and is anticipated to be published by the end of the year. The hydrogen testing program at DHBW Mannheim University is ongoing, with a PTFE packing sample sent to the university for testing next month in accordance with ISO 15848 CO1. Additionally, the ESA will sponsor a student at the university, who will begin in the autumn and will be engaged in the hydrogen testing project.
Expansion Joints Division
The Division has successfully transitioned its configurator tool for selecting standard fabric expansion joint solutions into a web-based format. A final testing version is expected to be ready this month, and it will undergo thorough testing by members, with hopes of launching it on our website before the AGM in April. Furthermore, the training presentation titled “Introduction to Fabric Expansion Joints” is progressing well and is expected to be available later this year.
Mechanical Seals Division
Members of the Mechanical Seals Division continue to engage actively in working groups to revise API 682, with additional work required on the standard’s Annexes. The final document is now projected for publication in the latter half of this year.
The second online training module, which focuses on containment seals, is nearing completion and will soon be available in the ESA Knowledgebase. In addition to other training modules, the Division has decided to develop a module addressing troubleshooting mechanical seal failures, with the first draft set for discussion at the upcoming Division meeting.
A new magazine article entitled “The Role of Carbon-Graphite and Silicon Carbide Seal Ring Wear Faces in the Energy Transition and Efficiency of Pumping Equipment” has been completed and is set to be submitted for publication.
Flange Gaskets Division
In February, the final article comparing helium and hydrogen leakage results for Aramid fiber-based gaskets was published in Valve World magazine. The upcoming article focusing on the recycling of gasket waste material is prepared and will be submitted for publication shortly. A new training module on gasket selection has been finalised and will soon be available in the ESA Knowledgebase. Work has commenced on the subsequent module regarding gasket installation. Additionally, translations into Italian, Spanish, and German have been completed for the gasket installation video, and these subtitled versions will be released soon. The possibility of incorporating AI voiceover translations is also being further investigated.
For the plastics reduction initiative, new biodegradable materials have been identified for use for plastic spacers and wrapping foil. Samples will be ordered and discussed with members during the AGM meeting in April.
Elastomeric & Polymeric Seals Division
The Arrhenius project is ongoing, and a report detailing the project work at CETIM is currently in progress, with completion expected by April. A new project program for the years 2025-2027 is also being developed.
A new test project will be established conducting compression tests to assess the aging of FKM materials in both air and hydrogen environments at various temperatures, with CETIM set to carry out these tests this year.
The Division is actively working on magazine articles, with two in development focusing on the establishment of ISO 5119 and the continued efforts on the Arrhenius project. The creation of the introductory training program titled “Introduction to Elastomeric Seals” is still in progress.
Ralf Vogel,
Technical Director, ESA