LNG Application

- J. Ronald Deepak

Critical Valves in LNG Industry

l

Feed Gas Inlet Pressure letdown valves

Joule-Thomson valve

Rich Amine Let-down Valve

Compressor Anti-surge valve Overview

LNG Cryogenic Valves Overview

Feed Gas Inlet Pressure Letdown Valves

l Supply the Feedstock to the various trains of the
entire LNG plant
l Located immediately downstream of the pipeline
slug catchers
l Provide the first substantial pressure reduction of
the feed gas from the LNG pipeline pressure to
normal operating pressure
l Two inlet valves 100 % operational redundancy
l Usually carry Several Million SCF/day of Natural
Gas

Feed gas Inlet Pressure Letdown Valves

FeedGas Inlet Letdown Valve Parameters

Parameter

Typical Value

Inlet Pressure, P1

83-85 barg/(1200-1305 psig)

Pressure Drop, dP

15-30 bard/(220-435 psid)

Inlet Temperature

Approx. 43 Deg. C/(110 F)

Valve type/size/pressure class

Globe/16-20/600# or 900#

Valve Material/Trim Material

CS NACE/316SST/Alloy6

Shutoff Requirement

Class V

Trim type

Noise attenuation trim

Feed Gas Inlet Valve Concerns

l

Typically require a Noise attenuation trim due to

High pressure drop and flow rate
Need to have precise throttling to maintain
constant inlet pressure to the whole LNG plant
Usually needs large turn-down Ratio 2 Valves
in Parallel or Split-Range operation
Valve body , trim materials usually have to be

Hardened & NACE Compliant due to possible

presence of H 2S and other acids.

Joule
-Thomson (JT) Valve
Joule-Thomson
l

l
l

l
l

Used in the Main Cryogenic Heat Exchanger (MCHE) unit

Liquefaction of Natural Gas
Cold and Warm JT valves
Spray Mixed Refrigerant (MR) onto the Heat Exchanger
bundles, which carry the Feed Gas
JT Valves control the flow of MR through the H.E.
bundles, which determines the LNG Production rate
Cold JT valve Located near the top of MHE
Warm JT valve Located near the middle of MHE

Joule
-Thomson (JT) Valve**
Joule-Thomson

* APCI Propane Precooled Mixed Refrigerant Process

Warm JT Valve Typical Parameters **

Parameter

Typical Value

Inlet Pressure, P1

35 barg/(500 psig)

Pressure Drop, dP

31 bard/(450 psid)

Inlet Temperature

- 130 C/(- 200 F)

Valve type/size/pressure class

Globe Cryogenic/ 6-12/ANSI

600#

Valve Material/Trim Material

316SST or 316SST/Alloy6

Shutoff Requirement

Class V

Trim type

Noise attenuation/Flow up

* APCI Mixed Refrigerant Process

Cold JT Valve Typical Parameters **

Parameter

Typical Value

Inlet Pressure, P1

31 barg/(450 psig)

Pressure Drop, dP

28 bard/(400 psid)

Inlet Temperature

-146 C/(-230 F)

Valve type/size/pressure class

Globe Cryogenic/ 6-12/ANSI

600#

Valve Material/Trim Material

316SST or 316SST/Alloy6

Shutoff Requirement

Class V

Trim type

Noise attenuation/Flow up

* APCI Mixed Refrigerant Process

Cold and Warm JT Valves - Concerns

l
l

Cryogenic requirements
Proper trim selection due to Flashing/outgassing present
during JT expansion of refrigerant
Valve needs to have reliable and accurate throttling
control to maintain efficient cooling of the feed gas
If used in parallel with expander, focus on valve Cv
design
Typically require Noise attenuation trim, with Flow up
configuration
Tight shut-off is recommended to prevent erosion
damage

Rich Amine Let

-down Valve
Let-down
l
l

Located near the Absorption tower

Amines (MEA, DEA, TEA) used to remove acid
gases (H2S, CO2) from natural gas
Entrained gas comes out of solution (Outgassing)

Rich Amine Letdown valve controls liquid level in

the Absorption Tower

The Natural Gas rises counter-currently in

intimate contact with the descending amine
solution.

Rich Amine Let

-down Valve
Let-down
Clean
Gas
Out

Absorption tower

Amine
Regeneration

LC

Acid
Gas
Inlet

Rich Amine

Flash
Tank

Rich Amine Letdown Valve or

Flash Tank Level Control Valve

Rich Amine Let

-down Valve Parameters
Let-down
Parameter

Typical Value

Inlet Pressure, P1

65 bar (approx.)

Pressure Drop, dP

50 bar (approx.)

Inlet Temperature

60-75 deg C

Valve type/size/pressure class

Globe/ 16-20/600# ANSI

Valve Material/Trim Material

WCC-NACE/316SST/Hardened
Trim

Shutoff Requirement

Class V

Trim type

Noise attenuation/Flow up

Packing type

Fugitive emission packing system

Rich Amine Let

-down Valve - Concerns
Let-down
l

Pressure drop through valve will lead to outgassing gases coming out of solution
Results in two-phase flow - amine and H2S/CO2
Excessive vibration possible
High velocity impingement and erosion are possible

l
l

Valve needs to be sized for 2-phase flow

Noise attenuation trim is typically required due to high
pressure drop from the tower to the flash tank
Body and trim materials to be NACE MR-0175 Compliant
due to presence of H2S
Valve should not be allowed to throttle at low lifts to
prevent any seat erosion damage (Specify lower travel
cut-off in Positioner)

Compressor Anti
-surge Valve - Overview
Anti-surge
l Located at the recycle line of compressor or its
stages
l Protects compressor damage occurring due to
surge
l

Anti-surge valve provides a path for compressed

gas to be returned back to the suction side of the
compressor

LNG Pipeline Compressor

MR Compressor Anti
-surge Valve
Anti-surge

Typical MR Anti
-surge valve Parameters *
Anti-surge
Parameter

Typical Value

Inlet Pressure, P1

14 barg/(200 psig)

Pressure Drop, dP

7 bard/(100 psid)

Inlet Temperature

60 C /(140 F)

Valve type/size/pressure class

Globe or Angle/16-24/300# or 600#

Valve Material/Trim Material

CS/Std

Shutoff Requirement

Class V

Trim type

Noise Attenuation trim

Actuation

Anti-surge actuation package (Piston actuator,

Positioner, Volume Booster, Solenoid& Pilot
Valve, High capacity Regulator)

* Propane Compressor parameters

Anti
-surge Valve Concerns *
Anti-surge
l

l
l
l

l
l
l

Valve should be sized with a trim that accommodates

the standard throttling service conditions plus has a max
Cv capacity 1.8-2.2 times the max calculated Cv.
Valve trim should have linear flow characteristics
Valve shall be capable of online diagnostics
Valve should open in less than 2 seconds with
positioner and in less than 1 second with Solenoid
valve.
Valve should be Fail-open
Typically require Noise attenuation trim
Typically used with multiple accessories - Volume
Booster(s), Solenoid Valve, Pilot Valve, to achieve Fast
stroking

*CCC (Compressor Controls Corporation) and FISHER Specification

Anti
-surge Valve with Accessories
Anti-surge

LNG Cryogenic Valves - Overview

l

Valves that handle the MR Refrigerant/coolant and the

LNG product operate at Cryogenic temperatures

Valve and trim material selection is critical to proper

operation
Concerns
l Body & Trim material selection Stainless Steel
l Extension Bonnet to prevent Frosting in Stem/packing
l Leakage class is critical ANSI FCI Class V or VI
l Fugitive emission packing is recommended
l