Alternative Fuel Service Ball Valves for Hydrogen and CNG Applications Fuel Service Ball Valves
Alternative fuel systems demand components that can perform reliably under high pressures, wide temperature ranges, and demanding operating conditions. Designed specifically for compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen fuel applications, Swagelok® Alternative Fuel Service (AFS) Ball Valves help operators achieve the durability, safety, and performance required in fueling stations and other critical alternative energy systems. With working pressures up to 6,000 psig, high-flow capability, leak-tight sealing, and a compact design, AFS valves are engineered to support both operational efficiency and long-term reliability. Their patented seat-loading design, advanced sealing technologies, and field-repairable construction help reduce maintenance challenges while maintaining consistent performance across variable-pressure conditions. In this video, learn how Swagelok AFS Ball Valves help meet the evolving needs of hydrogen and CNG fueling infrastructure through innovative design, dependable operation, and proven fluid system expertise.
Video Transcript
At Swagelok, we meet the emerging needs of our customers with products like alternative fuel service ball valves, or AFS valves. Today, customers need compact valves for high-pressure, high-flow applications requiring high durability, even at high temperatures. They need flexibility in system design, as well as streamlined maintenance and easy operation.
AFS ball valves from Swagelok meet the most critical needs in the most demanding alternative fuel service applications. These include fueling stations and other public domain uses in the compressed natural gas and hydrogen fuel industries.
AFS valves can handle working pressures of up to 6,000 psig, or 413 bar. They can tolerate temperatures as low as -40°F and as high as 250°F, or 121°C. They have a large orifice capable of producing flow coefficients of up to 13.8. Yet these quarter-turn valves are easy to actuate, and they conform to guidelines in the Americans with Disabilities Act.
They’re not only high performing but long lasting, far exceeding industry cycle-life standards. AFS valves are easy to install. If they wear out, they’re field repairable—a bonus, especially in remote applications.
The extraordinary features of AFS ball valves stem from our patented seat-loading design and the materials we use in their construction. O-rings of ultra-low-temperature fluorocarbon, along with proven seal configurations, guard against leakage. A floating stainless steel ball coated with PTFE minimizes friction and wear. Spring-loaded seats of high-strength engineered polymers help ensure chemical compatibility, as well as leak-tight integrity in low- and high-pressure alternative fuel systems.
In developing our patented seat-loading design, we used finite element analysis. It shows how the highest stress points, shown in red, are equally distributed while the valve is open. As the valve closes, the ball floats downstream, increasing stress on the seat and compressing the spring. At the same time, a seat spring applies additional force to the upstream seat. This maintains a leak-tight seal, even in high, low, and variable-pressure applications across the full rated temperature range.
Alternative fuel service ball valves carry Swagelok’s limited lifetime warranty, reflecting our promise to stand behind everything we make.
