The ESA Divisions have continued their meetings and work activities. The following projects and initiatives were addressed.
The student project that tested various graphite-based packing designs with hydrogen has been completed. The thesis, written in German, is now accessible in the members' area and will also be translated into English. Some samples remain untested due to time limitations. It was decided to pursue testing on a project basis in collaboration with the university. The draft paper for the Valve World Conference in December has been accepted, and the final paper will be prepared by September.
Modifications to the final draft standard document prEN 18183 "Specification for Gland Packings manufactured from Yarns and Ribbons" will be made in both German and French versions. The final vote on the standard is set to begin shortly.
The Division continues to work with the German Packings Working Group formed by the University of Münster.
Efforts on the packing installation training course are still in progress.
The updated HTML version of the expansion joints configurator has been reviewed by several Division members. A draft is available on the Division webpage for all members to examine.
The training presentation entitled "Introduction to Fabric Expansion Joints" has received further updates.
Some members of the Division are actively working on the 5th revision of API 682. Annex F is nearing completion, and a second draft document is anticipated for release in July.
The training course on single mechanical seals has been finalised and reviewed by the members. It will soon be included in the training section of the ESA website. The position papers associated with this Division have been reviewed and will undergo updates over the summer before the latest versions are published on the ESA website.
Electrolysers designed for hydrogen production linked to renewable energy systems experience regular temperature fluctuations. A new project in collaboration with Cetim is set to commence this Autumn to explore the aging characteristics of gasket materials subjected to temperature variations from room temperature to 90 °C.
The most recent edition of the Glossary of Terms for gaskets has been uploaded to the Members area for review by Division members.
An article discussing leakage tests conducted with various test media in accordance with EN 13555 has been published in the June issue of Valve World. Additionally, a new draft article about the Chairwomen in this Division has been prepared and sent to the editor of Valve World.
The report on the previous Arrhenius aging project is still under development. A paper regarding the aging project has been completed for the European Conference on Constitutive Models for Rubber XIV, scheduled to take place in Oxford, UK, from 9.–11. September 2026. Ongoing efforts are focused on a numerical simulation of the aging process for elastomers utilizing Python.
The first compression set test involving hydrogen at 175 °C for the FKM material has commenced in CETIM's new dedicated facility, with completion expected by the end of June. The subsequent test will involve the FFKM material at 250 °C. The testing program that compares the aging behavior in both air and hydrogen will continue until the end of this year.
Work on the training presentation titled "Introduction to Elastomeric Seal Applications" is still in progress.
Ralf Vogel,
Technical Director, ESA