Cryogenic Valve Solutions for LNG & Low-Temperature Applications
LNG terminals, storage tanks, and industrial gas systems operate at temperatures down to -196°C, where standard valves crack, bind, or lose their seal. CTGV manufactures triple offset cryogenic butterfly valves engineered specifically for ultra-low-temperature isolation, tested to BS 6364 and proven in four years of leak-free service at an LNG terminal.
Why Cryogenic Service Needs a Different Valve
A valve that performs reliably at ambient temperature can fail within hours at -196°C. Three design principles separate a true cryogenic valve from a standard industrial valve adapted for cold service.
Metal-to-Metal Sealing
Soft elastomer seats lose elasticity and crack as temperature drops toward -196°C. CTGV's cryogenic triple offset design uses a force-sealed metal seat that maintains shutoff integrity without relying on a seal material that becomes brittle in extreme cold.
Triple Offset Geometry
The triple offset structure lifts the disc away from the seat the instant the valve begins to open, preventing seat wear from sliding contact. This zero-rubbing action is essential in cryogenic service, where any frictional contact accelerates wear at low temperature.
Cold-Tolerant Body Materials
Standard carbon steel becomes brittle and prone to fracture at cryogenic temperatures. CTGV specifies stainless steel body grades (CF8, CF8M) selected for ductility retention at -196°C, preventing the brittle fracture risk that disqualifies ordinary valve steel from LNG service.
Matched to Your Cryogenic System
CTGV's two cryogenic triple offset configurations are built for different points in an LNG or industrial gas system. Select a scenario below to see the typical challenge and which configuration CTGV recommends.
LNG Terminal Transfer Pipeline
Large-diameter transfer lines at LNG terminals carry continuous flow at -162°C and need isolation valves that can be installed in long welded pipe runs without leaking at the body joint over years of thermal cycling. Bolted flange connections are a common failure point as the pipe expands and contracts.
The side-entry, butt-welded configuration eliminates the flange gasket joint entirely, removing the leak path that thermal cycling exposes in flanged designs. Rated to PN100 and sized up to DN1200, it is built for the large-diameter transfer lines typical of terminal pipework — this is the exact configuration CTGV supplied for a -162°C LNG terminal pipeline that has run four years without a leak.
Storage Tank Inlet / Outlet Isolation
Valves mounted directly at LNG storage tank nozzles are safety-critical isolation points — if internal components need inspection or seat replacement, removing the entire valve body from the tank connection for maintenance is costly and extends tank downtime.
The top-entry design allows the trim — disc, stem, and seat — to be serviced by removing only the top cover, without disconnecting the valve body from the pipeline. For a tank isolation valve that may not need maintenance for years but must be serviceable when it does, this avoids a full pipeline shutdown just to access internal components.
In-Line Valves Requiring Frequent Service Access
Critical shutoff points in a cryogenic system — particularly those near rotating equipment or process skids — may need periodic inspection for seat wear or actuator service. Cutting a side-entry valve out of the line for every inspection is impractical on a tight maintenance schedule.
Top-entry access means scheduled inspections do not require breaking the pipeline connection. Available in both butt-welded and double-flange end connections, it can be specified to match either a fully welded cryogenic line or a section designed for periodic removal, giving plant maintenance teams flexibility without compromising the cryogenic seal rating.
Liquid Nitrogen, Oxygen & Ethylene Systems
Industrial gas plants handling liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, or ethylene face the same low-temperature embrittlement risk as LNG, but with an added constraint: liquid oxygen service demands non-reactive, cleaned components, since standard lubricants and certain elastomers are not compatible with an oxidising cryogenic medium.
The same triple offset platform used in LNG service applies directly to other cryogenic gases, with material and seal selection adjusted per medium — CF8M stainless body for general cryogenic gas duty, with oxygen-clean preparation available on request. The metal-seated configuration in particular avoids the elastomer compatibility question entirely for oxygen service.
Cryogenic Triple Offset Butterfly Valves (Cryogenic Butterfly Valve Series)
CTGV's cryogenic range covers two end-connection configurations, both built on the same triple offset, metal-sealed platform validated in LNG terminal service.
Cryogenic Side-Entry Triple Offset Butterfly Valve
Model: GD-381XPressure: 150LB–600LB
Body: CF8, CF3, CF8M, CF3M
Connection: Butt-Welded
Temp: ≥ -196°C
Welded body eliminates flange leak paths — the right choice for large-diameter terminal transfer lines under continuous thermal cycling.
View ProductCryogenic Top-Entry Triple Offset Butterfly Valve
Model: D363YPressure: 1.6–10.0 MPa (300 psi / 21 bar)
Body: Casting, metal-sealed
Connection: Butt-Welded or Double Flange
Temp: ≥ -196°C · BS 6364 tested
Top-mounted trim allows in-line servicing without removing the valve body — suited to tank isolation and frequently inspected points.
View ProductNeed a configuration not shown here, such as a cryogenic ball or check valve? Contact our engineering team →
Cryogenic & LNG System Applications
LNG Receiving Terminals
Unloading arms, transfer pipelines, and send-out lines operating continuously at -162°C.
LNG Storage Tanks
Tank inlet, outlet, and BOG (boil-off gas) isolation valves at the tank nozzle connection.
Regasification Plants
Vaporizer inlet isolation and LNG-to-gas transition piping ahead of the send-out compressor.
Industrial Gas Production
Liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, and ethylene systems requiring the same embrittlement protection as LNG.
Cryogenic LNG Valves for a Coastal Receiving Terminal Expansion
A coastal LNG receiving terminal undergoing capacity expansion needed cryogenic isolation valves for new transfer pipelines running continuously at -162°C, with a hard requirement for emergency shutoff capability in the event of a leak detection alarm. Standard industrial butterfly valves were ruled out early in the specification process due to elastomer seat embrittlement and cryogenic sealing failure risk at this temperature.
CTGV supplied nickel-steel cryogenic triple offset butterfly valves with PTFE-metal hybrid seals engineered for the -162°C duty point, passing DNV STF 670 type testing for LNG valve service. The installation has now passed four full years of leak-free operation across the terminal's main LNG transfer headers, and the valves met the terminal's emergency shutoff standard, achieving full closure in under 0.5 seconds — contributing to zero fugitive methane emissions since commissioning.
Manufacturer Capabilities & Certifications
Behind every CTGV cryogenic valve is a vertically integrated factory in Wenzhou covering casting, machining, assembly, and full-process testing under one roof — built to deliver the consistency that LNG-grade specifications require.
Superior Manufacturing Capabilities
Annual production capacity of 20,000 tons, supported by over 500 sets of advanced production equipment and more than 300 sets of testing instruments covering the full process from raw material to finished valve.
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Strict Quality Certifications
Our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. Cryogenic products are tested to BS 6364 and have passed third-party DNV inspection on completed projects.
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Global Market Presence
CTGV products are exported to the United States, Germany, Russia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Our 80+ country sales network ensures buyers in any region can access technical support and spare parts.
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