Case Study

Efficient volume flow control for SOFC

The challenge

The customer’s objective was to develop a valve for controlling gas flows for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) systems. The high demands on the leakage of the valve posed a particular challenge.

The smk solution

Through a clever adaptation, we were able to further develop an existing large-series automotive product for use in the SOFC application. Among other things, we used plastic sealing inserts for this purpose. Initial samples were created with the 3D printer. In this way, the customer was able to test the concept in trial runs at short notice.

The successful result

During the test runs at the customer’s, our concept was fully confirmed, all requirements were met. Since then, we have been supplying the control valves with injection moulded sealing elements in series.