Cryogenic valves can withstand and operate effectively at extremely cold temperatures. They serve in a variety of fields including the petrochemical and aerospace industry, where there is a need to handle fluids at such temperature levels. Although the definition of cryogenic temperature varies according to industry, it is common to see cryogenic valves operate between -40℉ (-40℃) to values below -320℉ (-196℃). In this article, we will review the common uses of cryogenic valves, types, standards, and testing.
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Cryogenic valves are mostly found in industrial facilities to harness the benefits of undergoing processes at cryogenic temperatures. Thus, the following sections highlight some of these applications.
In the oil and gas industry, cryogenic valves serve in the control of liquified gasses such as liquid nitrogen, methane, and helium. Because of the ease and safety of non-pressurized storage and transport, these elements cool to cryogenic temperatures, so they remain in the liquid state. As a result, larger volumes can be transported or stored for some time, while the piping system operates at much lower pressure levels. Before cooling these gasses into liquid, it is necessary to remove condensate, moisture, CO2, and H2S to prevent corrosion problems downstream.
From World War II, the field of cryogenics enjoyed accelerated development with its eventual commercialization in 1966 by Ed Busch. Busch increased metal tool design life by up to two to four times via cryogenic tempering rather than heat treatment. As a result, it is common to find cryogenic valves and accompanying equipment in steel production plants today. Another area of use is in the freezing of foods and biotech products such as vaccines.
In the aerospace industry, cryogenic fuels have gained wide acceptance over the years. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen often serve as propellants for space shuttles, either alone or in combination with jet fuel. The presence of cryogenic valves is a must in such systems.
As previous sections highlight, there are a variety of cryogenic applications. Similarly, there are a variety of valve types that can serve in these applications, with each having its own benefits. Thus, it is necessary to select the right type that suits an application. Generally, a basic feature of all cryogenic valves is having a tight shut-off. Cryogenic fluids are sensitive, and any leakage can cause harmful and expensive damage.
The triple-offset butterfly valve is an ideal option for cryogenic service. This is due to its non-friction, metal-to-metal seal that provides bubble-tight shut-off and the long-term integrity of the sealing mechanism. Additionally, they offer quick opening and closing action and are the ideal choice for remote operation. The Durco TX3 butterfly valve provides such an example – with excellent shutoff capabilities, low torque, and reduced wear benefit.
These valves have a spherical shape with a disc that rotates 90° to the plane of its body seat. Therefore, it provides effectiveness for long-term sealing. However, they may not resist erosion for long and are not recommended for systems with high flow rates. Ideally, globes should be provided with a full Stellite valve trim to protect against erosion. Cryogenic fluids tend to lose their lubricity, and the Stellite helps to reduce the wear and tear on the valve.
The most common valves for liquid gas applications are the double-seal ball valves such as the L&T and AMPO Poyam. Generally, they offer better flow characteristics than globe valves. Also, they are very efficient in providing a tight seal. They also incorporate a vapor space of sufficient height that allows gasification in the area below the gland. Consequently, this keeps the gland packing near the ambient temperature as thermal conductivity between the inside and outside of the valve is limited. Yet, due to wear concerns along the seals and the ball, they find preference in applications with an unrestricted flow path.
A typical cryogenic gate valve has a wedge-shaped gate, which opens and closes in line with the mating body seat. As a result, there is minimal pressure drop when in a fully open position. Thus, it provides desirable flow characteristics. For larger valve sizes, gate valves such as the Poyam, L&T, and the smaller forged NEWCO are preferred in place of ball valves, which can be more costly. However, gates are more difficult and expensive to actuate in comparison to butterfly valves, especially as their size increases, so they are not ideal for remote operation. Gates can be prone to wear and tear if they are subject to often repeated opening and closings. An advantage gate valves have is that due to the metal-to-metal sealing surfaces, they are not subject to the cold flow that Teflon seals in ball valves tend to see.
Ideally, gate valves should be provided with a Full Stellite Trim (Stellite on both the seat and the disc) to protect against erosion. Cryogenic fluids tend to lose their lubricity and the Stellite helps to reduce the wear and tear on the valve.
Although some companies have specific requirements for cryogenic valve service, most of these requirements stem from engineering standards such as MSS SP-134, BS 6364, ASME 16.34, and ISO 21011.
The MSS SP-134 is the dominant code in use within North America. It covers requirements for material, design, dimensions, fabrication, pressure testing, and non-destructive examination of cryogenic valves with body/bonnet extensions. Below is a summary of the recommendations of this design code:
This British Standard specifies requirements for the design, manufacture, and testing of valves for cryogenic service. A summary of its requirements is as follows:
The ASME 16.34 contains important specifications covering parts relating to the valve such as flange, threading, and welding end. A few of the details include:
This international standard outlines requirements for the design, manufacture, and testing of valves for the operation of cryogenic fluids. In addition, the specifications cover operation at temperatures from ambient to cryogenic. A summary of its recommendations is as follows:
There are a host of other standards that are useful when dealing with cryogenic valves. Some of these standards and areas of coverage include:
Like every other type of valve, cryogenic valves are subjected to valve testing, according to the type of valve in use. Nevertheless, some of the tests which are always a requirement include:
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As its name suggests, cryogenic valves are designed to be used in very cold applications. They are thus most popularly used by companies that work with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). For instance, the oil and gas industry frequently uses cryogenic temperature ranges starting at -238 degrees Fahrenheit (-150 degrees Celcius). Additionally, some gasses aren't labeled 'cryogenic' because of their temperature, but rather because they require more than a simple pressure increase to compress their volume. Cryogenic valves are built to help transport and store such cryogenic gasses safely and efficiently.
Cryogenic valves differentiate from other standard valves in the modern market due to their ability to be fully functional both in temperatures as low as -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celcius) and at pressure ratings as high as 750 psi.
Cryogenic valves are kept in a natural closed position to keep cryogenic gasses or other medium secure and safely contained. A cryogenic valve is generally designed to react to high pressure which pushes the valve into the open position to allow the gas or other media to flow readily through. Such open flow will continue until the pressure again decreases, at which point it will swing back nd become seal with a special metal seat bubble-tight shutoff to prevent any leaking.
Cryogenic gases and other media are extremely sensitive. Having it leak in an unwanted place can cause serious and very expensive damages, especially as it is a costly endeavor to transform standard temp gasses into cryogen.
Standard valves are sensitive to the extreme temperatures as they contract and expand at various rates when exposed to hot and freezing conditions, thus causing breaks in the seal and enabling the undesired leakage. It's these heat gains that have long been a problem in the study, transport, and storage of cryogenic gas processing.
There are five types of cryogenic valves that are ideal for cryogenic media. Each of these types has its own set of characteristics that make them suitable in some applications and unsuitable in others.
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Russ Bailey is a seasoned professional with an impressive 35-year career in valve sales. He serves as an Outside Sales Representative for both ValveMan.com and FS Welsford, where his deep industry knowledge and exceptional salesmanship enable him to provide tailored solutions for a diverse clientele. Russ is known for his ability to build robust relationships and his unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. With a strong commitment to excellence, Russ continues to drive business growth and contribute significantly to the success of both companies.
Cryogenic valves can withstand and operate effectively at extremely cold temperatures. They serve in a variety of fields including the petrochemical and aerospace industry, where there is a need to handle fluids at such temperature levels. Although the definition of cryogenic temperature varies according to industry, it is common to see cryogenic valves operate between -40℉ (-40℃) to values below -320℉ (-196℃). In this article, we will review the common uses of cryogenic valves, types, standards, and testing.
Cryogenic valves are mostly found in industrial facilities to harness the benefits of undergoing processes at cryogenic temperatures. Thus, the following sections highlight some of these applications.
In the oil and gas industry, cryogenic valves serve in the control of liquified gasses such as liquid nitrogen, methane, and helium. Because of the ease and safety of non-pressurized storage and transport, these elements cool to cryogenic temperatures, so they remain in the liquid state. As a result, larger volumes can be transported or stored for some time, while the piping system operates at much lower pressure levels. Before cooling these gasses into liquid, it is necessary to remove condensate, moisture, CO2, and H2S to prevent corrosion problems downstream.
From World War II, the field of cryogenics enjoyed accelerated development with its eventual commercialization in 1966 by Ed Busch. Busch increased metal tool design life by up to two to four times via cryogenic tempering rather than heat treatment. As a result, it is common to find cryogenic valves and accompanying equipment in steel production plants today. Another area of use is in the freezing of foods and biotech products such as vaccines.
In the aerospace industry, cryogenic fuels have gained wide acceptance over the years. Liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen often serve as propellants for space shuttles, either alone or in combination with jet fuel. The presence of cryogenic valves is a must in such systems.
As previous sections highlight, there are a variety of cryogenic applications. Similarly, there are a variety of valve types that can serve in these applications, with each having its own benefits. Thus, it is necessary to select the right type that suits an application. Generally, a basic feature of all cryogenic valves is having a tight shut-off. Cryogenic fluids are sensitive, and any leakage can cause harmful and expensive damage.
The triple-offset butterfly valve is an ideal option for cryogenic service. This is due to its non-friction, metal-to-metal seal that provides bubble-tight shut-off and the long-term integrity of the sealing mechanism. Additionally, they offer quick opening and closing action and are the ideal choice for remote operation. The Durco TX3 butterfly valve provides such an example – with excellent shutoff capabilities, low torque, and reduced wear benefit.
These valves have a spherical shape with a disc that rotates 90° to the plane of its body seat. Therefore, it provides effectiveness for long-term sealing. However, they may not resist erosion for long and are not recommended for systems with high flow rates. Ideally, globes should be provided with a full Stellite valve trim to protect against erosion. Cryogenic fluids tend to lose their lubricity, and the Stellite helps to reduce the wear and tear on the valve.
The most common valves for liquid gas applications are the double-seal ball valves such as the L&T and AMPO Poyam. Generally, they offer better flow characteristics than globe valves. Also, they are very efficient in providing a tight seal. They also incorporate a vapor space of sufficient height that allows gasification in the area below the gland. Consequently, this keeps the gland packing near the ambient temperature as thermal conductivity between the inside and outside of the valve is limited. Yet, due to wear concerns along the seals and the ball, they find preference in applications with an unrestricted flow path.
A typical cryogenic gate valve has a wedge-shaped gate, which opens and closes in line with the mating body seat. As a result, there is minimal pressure drop when in a fully open position. Thus, it provides desirable flow characteristics. For larger valve sizes, gate valves such as the Poyam, L&T, and the smaller forged NEWCO are preferred in place of ball valves, which can be more costly. However, gates are more difficult and expensive to actuate in comparison to butterfly valves, especially as their size increases, so they are not ideal for remote operation. Gates can be prone to wear and tear if they are subject to often repeated opening and closings. An advantage gate valves have is that due to the metal-to-metal sealing surfaces, they are not subject to the cold flow that Teflon seals in ball valves tend to see.
Ideally, gate valves should be provided with a Full Stellite Trim (Stellite on both the seat and the disc) to protect against erosion. Cryogenic fluids tend to lose their lubricity and the Stellite helps to reduce the wear and tear on the valve.
Although some companies have specific requirements for cryogenic valve service, most of these requirements stem from engineering standards such as MSS SP-134, BS 6364, ASME 16.34, and ISO 21011.
The MSS SP-134 is the dominant code in use within North America. It covers requirements for material, design, dimensions, fabrication, pressure testing, and non-destructive examination of cryogenic valves with body/bonnet extensions. Below is a summary of the recommendations of this design code:
This British Standard specifies requirements for the design, manufacture, and testing of valves for cryogenic service. A summary of its requirements is as follows:
The ASME 16.34 contains important specifications covering parts relating to the valve such as flange, threading, and welding end. A few of the details include:
This international standard outlines requirements for the design, manufacture, and testing of valves for the operation of cryogenic fluids. In addition, the specifications cover operation at temperatures from ambient to cryogenic. A summary of its recommendations is as follows:
There are a host of other standards that are useful when dealing with cryogenic valves. Some of these standards and areas of coverage include:
Like every other type of valve, cryogenic valves are subjected to valve testing, according to the type of valve in use. Nevertheless, some of the tests which are always a requirement include:
As its name suggests, cryogenic valves are designed to be used in very cold applications. They are thus most popularly used by companies that work with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). For instance, the oil and gas industry frequently uses cryogenic temperature ranges starting at -238 degrees Fahrenheit (-150 degrees Celcius). Additionally, some gasses aren't labeled 'cryogenic' because of their temperature, but rather because they require more than a simple pressure increase to compress their volume. Cryogenic valves are built to help transport and store such cryogenic gasses safely and efficiently.
Cryogenic valves differentiate from other standard valves in the modern market due to their ability to be fully functional both in temperatures as low as -320 degrees Fahrenheit (-196 degrees Celcius) and at pressure ratings as high as 750 psi.
Cryogenic valves are kept in a natural closed position to keep cryogenic gasses or other medium secure and safely contained. A cryogenic valve is generally designed to react to high pressure which pushes the valve into the open position to allow the gas or other media to flow readily through. Such open flow will continue until the pressure again decreases, at which point it will swing back nd become seal with a special metal seat bubble-tight shutoff to prevent any leaking.
Cryogenic gases and other media are extremely sensitive. Having it leak in an unwanted place can cause serious and very expensive damages, especially as it is a costly endeavor to transform standard temp gasses into cryogen.
Standard valves are sensitive to the extreme temperatures as they contract and expand at various rates when exposed to hot and freezing conditions, thus causing breaks in the seal and enabling the undesired leakage. It's these heat gains that have long been a problem in the study, transport, and storage of cryogenic gas processing.
There are five types of cryogenic valves that are ideal for cryogenic media. Each of these types has its own set of characteristics that make them suitable in some applications and unsuitable in others.
Valve industry
Sales
Customer relationship management
Product knowledge
Consultative sales approach
Business growth
Russ Bailey is a seasoned professional with an impressive 35-year career in valve sales. He serves as an Outside Sales Representative for both ValveMan.com and FS Welsford, where his deep industry knowledge and exceptional salesmanship enable him to provide tailored solutions for a diverse clientele. Russ is known for his ability to build robust relationships and his unwavering dedication to customer satisfaction. With a strong commitment to excellence, Russ continues to drive business growth and contribute significantly to the success of both companies.