Certification for Shell’s gate valve expected to boost use of Additive Manufacturing for pressure components in energy sector
September 19, 2023
The international classification society DNV, headquartered in Høvik, Norway, is reported to have issued CE certification to Bonney Forge, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, for an additively manufactured gate valve made by Shell at its Energy Transition Campus in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Bonney Forge is believed to be among the first companies in Europe to have obtained this certification for a spare part to be used in field operations. The valve will be installed at Shell’s Energy and Chemicals Park in Rotterdam.
The part was additively manufactured by a team at Shell’s Additive Manufacturing facility within the Energy Transition Campus. DNV granted a Particular Material Appraisal, by which a notified body authorises the use of a material not covered by a harmonised standard. As a result, the gate valve has received the absolute quality assurance certificate for compliance with the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU.
This qualification will help demonstrate the benefits and safety of valves produced with AM technology, and is expected to help pave the way for the commercial production of pressure components that meet quality standards for safe operation in the energy sector.
Angeline Goh, Digital Manager Supply Chain at Shell, who was part of the team responsible for the valve, stated that further details on the part, and the journey to its manufacture, will be presented at the 2023 ICAM (International Conference on Additive Manufacturing). The event is scheduled to take place October 30-November 3, 2023, in Washington DC, USA.
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