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By Neeraj Batra (Piping Materials Engineer) and Hitoshi Suzuki (Technical Leader-Material Technology & Management group),
Chiyoda Corporation
Common terminology Cryogenic temperature: a temperature dictated by standards, this length is usually
A short discussion about terms related to range of -100°F (-73 °C) to -425 °F (-254 °C) the distance between centerline of valve
cryogenic services will help the readers is considered cryogenic in the valve and bottom of stuffing box/packing
to have enhanced understanding about industry. chamber.
cryogenic valves and especially valves in Cold box: an enclosure that insulates a Non-cold box extension: a body/bonnet
LNG service. set of equipment from the environment extension that is used for valves that are
Cryogenic fluid: a gas that can be without the need for insulation of the normally individually insulated. Although
changed to a liquid by removal of heat by individual components inside the cold dictated by standards, this length is
refrigeration methods to a temperature box. A cold box is quite common in air usually the distance between top of
at -100 °F (-73 °C) or lower. Ethylene separation units. body bonnet joint and bottom of stuffing
(boiling point -104 °C at atmospheric Cold box extension: a valve body/ box/packing chamber. In this article, the
pressure), methane (boiling point -162 °C at bonnet extension section that removes the focus will be on individually insulated
atmospheric pressure) and nitrogen (boiling operating mechanism of the valve outside valves so all references to the bonnet
point -196 °C at atmospheric pressure) are the cold box and is required to be longer extension will imply a non-cold box
some common examples of cryogenic fluids. than a non-cold box extension. Although extension.
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LNG
The seat designs are such that cavity SS 316 is used for the valves due to the
pressure will either push the seats away better behaviour of the valve function and
from the ball (SPE seats) or push the seats trims at subzero temperatures. Although
towards the ball (DPE seats). LNG is very clean, gate and globe valves
The cavity relief mechanism for slab gate are generally specified “half Stellite”
and expanding gate valve will not be since LNG is very dry and hence non-
discussed here since these valves are not lubricating.
common in LNG service. If a soft material is required in the ball valves
then PCTFE (Polychlorotrifluoroethylene)
*Additional considerations for valves is used as seat insert (see Fig. 6) and PTFE Fig. 6: PCTFE Seats. Photo courtesy Neway
equipped with cavity relief mechanism: (Polytetrafluoroethylene) and SS 316/Inconel Valves.
1. The direction of cavity relief shall be is used for the sealing material (commonly
clearly indicated on the P&ID & the called lip seals). One important consideration for triple
valve (see Fig. 5). One good location O-rings made of elastomeric materials are offset butterfly valves is the selection of
for indication of direction is on the drip not used in cryogenic valves due to their seat ring which is basically responsible
plate. Finally the valve installation on low temperature usage restraints (generally for providing tight shut-off between the
site shall be according to this direction. limited to -40 °C). body seats and disc. To obtain optimized
sealing performance, it is good engineering
practice and indeed recommended by most
Venting direction shall be indicated as follows:
leading valve vendors to select solid seal
ring in SS 316 austenitic stainless steel.
: When item to be isolated is located upstream of MBV This material grants long-term sealing
capabilities in cryogenic applications.
: When item to be isolated is located downstream of MBV Auxiliary connections: such as drains
and vents shall not be provided on the
Fig. 5: Typical indication of the cavity relief direction of valves in P&IDs (*MBV-Manual block valve) valves unless they are accessible. Normally
(Arrangement shown for a gate and ball valve). valves in LNG service are insulated with
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*Additional considerations for BW valves in Cryogenic testing of valves Summary and conclusion
LNG service: The following standards are widely used Valves in LNG service are very special valves
1. Maintenance aspects shall be for the cryogenic testing of valves: and need dedicated attention when it
considered. Top entry ball valve and • BS6364-Valves for cryogenic service comes to design, selection and testing.
butterfly valves shall be selected. • MSS SP-134-Valves for cryogenic These valves handle extremely flammable
Provisions for temporary scaffolding service, including requirements for liquids and any valve failure could lead
space shall be considered in material body/bonnet extensions to a catastrophic failure and operation
handling. Handling of big sized balls, • ISO 28921-1-Industrial valves- downtime. Although CAPEX reduction
gate valve wedges and butterfly valve isolating valves for low-temperature has become the prime focus with the
discs shall be considered. applications downturn in both crude oil prices and
2. If valves are manufactured from castings, LNG prices, these valves still need special
then the end connection of the valves This requirement is too broad to be attention and need to be procured from
shall be radiographic tested since small covered in this article. However, cryogenic experienced valve suppliers.
casting defects on the butt-welded ends testing is very important to verify that i) the
can aggravate during the welding process. valve bonnet extension and length of the A carefully selected, designed and tested
3. For top entry butterfly valves, the type gas column is sufficient and the packing valve will mitigate any potential risks.
of top entry (true top entry or side top remains at ambient temperature during
entry) and its maintenance aspects shall testing, ii) the valve sealing members
be discussed with the vendor. provide the required shut off or not, About the authors
iii) any fugitive emission from the valves
are under the acceptable limit or not,
Type of valves: this topic is too broad to
and iv) valve seating/unseating and
be covered in this article and needs separate
operating torque are within human
attention. Historically, floating and trunnion-
capabilities, etc.
mounted ball valves have been used in LNG
service due to their tight shut off capability.
However, with the advancement of triple Testing and installation at
offset butterfly valves and eccentric ball the construction site Mr. Neeraj Batra and Mr. Hitoshi Suzuki.
valves, end users have been specifying these Dedicated preservation procedures shall
This article was written by Neeraj
valves for isolation since they are inherently be prepared for cryogenic valves. It is
cavity free (see Fig. 7). Also, as opposed necessary to protect the valves from any Batra (Piping Materials Engineer)
to ball valves which are pressure seated, dirt or moisture. Also, the valves should and Hitoshi Suzuki (Technical Leader-
these valves are torque seated. Technically be pneumatically tested (as a part of a Material Technology & Management
speaking, it is always better to rely on torque- piping test package if required) at the group) from the Chiyoda Corporation.
seated cavity free valves instead of pressure- construction site since it is very difficult Chiyoda is a global leader in the LNG
seated valves with a cavity for which the or even impossible to remove entrapped business and has built various plants
cavity relief design is non-standard and varies water from the cavity. If any water does and executed numerous projects in
from manufacturer to manufacturer. become trapped in the valve cavity, then it over forty countries world-wide since
Ultimately, it is the end user’s experiences will freeze during operation and will render its foundation in 1948.
which dictate the valve selection philosophy. the valve in-operable.
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