2008 Volume 2008 Issue 7-2 Pages 397-402
Natural gas is being hailed as alternative energy sources for a petroleum, because it is almost no emissions of pollutants in the environment. Use of equipment for liquified natural gas, along with increased demand for natural gas is also growing. Cryogenic ball valve is used to control the liquified natural gas which temperature is-196°C, supplied pressure is 168kg/cm2. To acquire the safety along with durability of cryogenic ball valve, we should consider the structural mechanics such as stress, deformation and dynamic vibration characteristics and identify those important aspects in the stage of preliminary design engineering. For the cryogenic ball valve, the assurance of structural integrity and operability are essential to meet not only normal, abnormal loading conditions but also functionality during a seismic event. In this study, analytical approach and results using finite element analysis and computational method are herein presented to evaluate the aspects of structural integrity along with operability of cryogenic ball valve. Moreover, we have done the optimal design through special processing and heat treatment and so on. Finally, we designed the high pressure cryogenic ball valve that accomplishes zero leakage.