Safety is paramount in the marine industry and this has had a huge influence on cryogenic valve design. The trend towards more environmentally friendly liquified natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel means that cryogenic valves are increasingly being required in this sector, which has driven equipment suppliers to develop products suitable for this purpose.
Bestobell Valves, based in Sheffield, England, is at the forefront of meeting the challenges posed by the demand for new applications of cryogenic valve in marine LNG transport. The company has over 50 years of industrial gas experience and 15 years of successfully supplying goods and services specifically to LNG marine markets. The company’s valve technologies are widely used on LNG Carriers, FPSOs (Floating Production & Storage Offshore), and FSRUs (Floating Storage & Re-gasification Units). The company designs and produces valves to meet specific requirements in the marine sector and has supplied cryogenic valves to a majority of the major shipyards building LNG Carriers.
On board vessels, factors such as space, fire resistance/containment, actuator power, maintenance, and vibration have meant that some manufacturers, such as Bestobell, have developed all-metal valves specifically for this purpose. These valves are installed on vessels where LNG is used as a marine fuel.
With these valves, it is essential that they are “fire-safe by design” meaning that the materials used are individually capable of withstanding high temperatures. But it is a worrying fact that very few cryogenic valves undergo fire simulation testing to see how the valve as a whole reacts in a fire scenario. The IGC Code explicitly states that “Material having a melting point below 925°C should not be used for piping outside the gas tanks.” Piping also includes the valves. Bestobell’s all metal valves ensure that should a fire break out on board a ship, the valve integrity is maintained and there is no leakage of gas through the seat of the valve, which could cause a fire to escalate.
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