Creep behavior and sealing performance of spring-energized seal in hydrogen electrolyzer operating conditions

The spring-energized seal, utilizing a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) jacket, is investigated for a hydrogen production electrolyzer. This material selection is justified by its exceptional chemical resistance, high-temperature tolerance, and low gas permeability, which are required for harsh operating environments. Through compression creep testing, creep curves for polytetrafluoroethylene were obtained at both room temperature and elevated temperatures. The creep behavior was characterized using a Burgers creep model, which was subsequently applied to finite element analysis. Results indicate a positive correlation between the medium pressure and the maximum Mises stress in the PTFE sealing jacket, while the contact stress decreases significantly with increasing temperature. Crucially, high-temperature creep significantly redistributes boundary stress within the PTFE jacket. Under 30-day creep conditions, the consequent stress redistribution reduces the maximum Mises stress by more than 50% compared to static analyses. These findings provide a critical foundation for predicting the service life of the seal structure.