Valve specialist Severn Glocon has boosted capacity for cryogenic testing at its Gloucester facilities, following a surge in orders for LNG megaprojects.
The firm has invested in additional testing baths that can hold valves from ½” up to 36” ANSI 2500 rating and it now has 4000-litre storage facilities for liquid nitrogen. On average, three large valves are currently being tested per week to certify that they are fit to operate in extreme LNG environments.
Valves destined for LNG applications require test temperatures of -196°C to ensure they can operate safely and effectively at temperatures as low as -158°C in the field. Conducting cryogenic testing in-house enhances Severn Glocon’s turnaround time and facilitates better project management. Since many LNG megaprojects now employ time-sensitive modular construction methods, this capability is a major competitive advantage.
“Cryogenic testing is a significant undertaking – particularly for large valves that take a number of days for the testing cycle,” explains Chris King, QHSE Manager at Severn Glocon. “Having our own facilities within a safe working environment means that we can operate more efficiently – once valves are manufactured they are immediately put through for testing so their despatch is not delayed.”
