Rubbishsupp by Gasworld Publishing LLC

medical gases in healthcare facilities. Among the various applications for which cryogenic pumps are employed, the energy and power segment is expected to be the largest market. This will likely offset any adverse effects on pump demand from the global steel business, where there are well-documented concerns over the over-capacity in the marketplace due to economic slowdown, struggling oil and

gas prices, and the influx of cheap steel product from China. Positive displacement pumps are projected to be in the highest growth mode through to 2021, says Research and Markets, due to their increasing use in industries such as energy and power, shipbuilding, food and beverages, and healthcare. Asia-Pacific is the largest regional market for these pumps, the company’s report states, due to increasing energy demand in the region. On the ground Those are some of the factors at play according to various market reports, but what’s the feeling on the ground amongst the equipment community? The outlook is mixed, especially considering the relative rise and fall in LNG prospects in recent years, but the cryogenic pumps and valves business is a part of the industry with various pockets of organic growth to be realised. The emergence of LNG as a fuel has undoubtedly provided those in the cryogenic equipment manufacturing industry with a boom in business considering this equipment is essential to facilitating the shipping and delivery of this product by road, rail or sea. Indeed, Keith Stewart – Managing Director of HEROSE UK Ltd – explains in our feature on page 10 that, “A busy LNG market increases opportunities and sales of valves, pumps, vessels and other associated products for the equipment manufacturers who supply the industrial gas markets.” HEROSE was among a number of valves manufacturers, including

Habonim, Bestobell, Mack Valves and RegO Goddard Products, to rise to the challenge in partnering LNG’s growth trajectory. But that LNG boom has been seen to ease and even contract in the last couple of years as the plunging oil price sent ripples through the many interconnected markets, the LNG business included. Duncan Gaskin, Marketing Development Manager of Parker Bestobell Valves, told gasworld last year that, “the cryogenic industry as a whole is starting to see a downturn” and the “LNG industry is seeing challenges caused by the very low oil price.” Though it has been a challenging industry to advance in of late as far as cryogenic valves are concerned, Gaskin expects the LNG marine sector to start

$22bn

to pick up again as early as 2018 and noted that as the shipping industry looks to reduce air pollutants, and with the introduction of emission control areas (ECAs), demand is expected to increase for high pressure valves that are marine approved as ship owners switch to gas burning engines. All of which points to a long-term approach of going with the flow, which is much the same for the pumps side of the business. Cryostar has always been at the forefront of cryogenic technology and very much at the coalface of the rising LNG sector and though the market has been crunched of late, President Samuel Zouaghi has confidently stated, “As for LNG – it is here to stay.” LNG aside, the feeling on the ground for cryogenic pumps and valves is much

segment, however, is consistent if not exponential and will likely remain this way due to the fundamental nature of the industry, its requirements, and its decision-making processes. The industry is striving to identify new growth drivers right across the supply chain, and innovation is the word of the day in this respect. Many pumps and valves manufacturers are re-evaluating their products and working to improve or evolve these to include new features and functionality for their customers. Others are already looking to embrace the big data, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital communication movement in their next generation of products. Some companies are addressing other areas of their product ranges; HEROSE continues to extend its range of cryogenic valves in terms of size, in response to an abundance of applications. The company’s control valves are now available in larger sizes through to 10 inches, for example (see page 10). Germany-based Zwick Armaturen GmbH has witnessed increasing popularity for its triple eccentric butterfly valves, challenging the

$22bn

$22bn Estimates project the cryogenic equipment market to grow to just over $22bn by 2021

$22bn

Among the various applications for which cryogenic pumps are employed, the energy and power segment is expected to be the largest market. This will likely offset any adverse effects on pump demand from the global steel business, where there are well-documented concerns over the over-capacity in the marketplace due to economic slowdown, struggling oil and

the same as that for the wider industry as a whole – that fresh, organic growth in the more established markets either geographically or in terms of application can be difficult to attain. Gaskin said last year that, “the industrial gas sector has been stagnant for a while.” All of which concurs with the projections in the aforementioned reports; non-cyclical sectors aside, much growth will be derived from developing markets in the period through to 2021. Valves supply for the industrial gases segment, however, is consistent if not exponential and will likely remain this way due to the fundamental nature of the industry, its requirements, and its decision-making processes. The industry is striving to identify new growth drivers right across the supply chain, and innovation is the word of the

range of cryogenic valves in terms of size, in response to an abundance of applications. The company’s control valves are now available in larger sizes through to 10 inches, for example (see page 10). Germany-based Zwick Armaturen GmbH has witnessed increasing popularity for its triple eccentric butterfly valves, challenging the domination of sliding-stem globe and angle valves when it comes to the market for control valves. To extend the range and create an efficient high performance control valve, Zwick and Yeary Controls developed the TRISHARK triple offset butterfly valve. In collaboration with Yeary Controls, Zwick developed the patented throttling trim cartridge Sharktooth, which is used to turn its triple offset butterfly

March 2017 | gasworld supplement | 05

With the increase in industrialisation and power demand, the use of cryogenic equipment is on the rise as it can be used in several high end and non-cyclical applications. That’s according to Research and Markets, which also cites the increase in the exploration and production of conventional and shale reserves as driving demand. This concurs with a report from MarketsandMarkets, which projects the global cryogenic equipment market to grow from an estimated $16bn in 2016 to just over $22.4bn by 2021, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% in this time frame. For cryogenic pumps in particular, the global market is projected to witness high growth on account of rising power generation from renewables. Research and Markets projects the cryogenic pump market to reach $1.96bn by 2021, at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2016 through to 2021, attributed to increasing demand for LNG from sectors such as power generation, as well as demand for medical gases in healthcare facilities. Among the various applications for which cryogenic pumps are employed, the energy and power segment is expected to be the largest market. This will likely offset any adverse effects on pump demand from the global steel business, where there are well-documented concerns over the over-capacity in the marketplace due to economic slowdown, struggling oil and gas prices, and the influx of cheap steel product from China. Positive displacement pumps are projected to be in the highest growth mode through to 2021, says Research and Markets, due to their increasing use

in industries such as energy and power, shipbuilding, food and beverages, and healthcare. Asia-Pacific is the largest regional market for these pumps, the company’s report states, due to increasing energy demand in the region. On the ground Those are some of the factors at play according to various market reports, but what’s the feeling on the ground amongst the equipment community? The outlook is mixed, especially considering the relative rise and fall in LNG prospects in recent years, but the cryogenic pumps and valves business is a part of the industry with various pockets of organic growth to be realised. The emergence of LNG as a fuel has undoubtedly provided those in the cryogenic equipment manufacturing industry with a boom in business considering this equipment is essential to facilitating the shipping and delivery of this product by road, rail or sea. Indeed, Keith Stewart – Managing Director of HEROSE UK Ltd – explains in our feature on page 10 that, “A busy LNG market increases opportunities and sales of valves, pumps, vessels and other associated products for the equipment manufacturers who supply the industrial gas markets.” HEROSE was among a number of valves manufacturers, including Habonim, Bestobell, Mack Valves and RegO Goddard Products, to rise to the challenge in partnering LNG’s growth trajectory. But that LNG boom has been seen to ease and even contract in the last couple of years as the plunging oil price sent ripples through the many

interconnected markets, the LNG business included. Duncan Gaskin, Marketing Development Manager of Parker Bestobell Valves, told gasworld last year that, “the cryogenic industry as a whole is starting to see a downturn” and the “LNG industry is seeing challenges caused by the very low oil price.” Though it has been a challenging industry to advance in of late as far as cryogenic valves are concerned, Gaskin expects the LNG marine sector to start to pick up again as early as 2018 and noted that as the shipping industry looks to reduce air pollutants, and with the introduction of emission control areas (ECAs), demand is expected to increase for high pressure valves that are marine approved as ship owners switch to gas burning engines.

aforementioned reports; non-cyclical sectors aside, much growth will be derived from developing markets in the period through to 2021. Valves supply for the industrial gases segment, however, is consistent if not exponential and will likely remain this way due to the fundamental nature of the industry, its requirements, and its decision-making processes. The industry is striving to identify new growth drivers right across the supply chain, and innovation is the word of the

$22bn

All of which points to a long-term approach of going with the flow, which is much the same for the pumps side of the business. Cryostar has always been at the forefront of cryogenic technology and very much at the coalface of the rising LNG sector and though the market has been crunched of late, President Samuel Zouaghi has confidently stated, “As for LNG – it is here to stay.” LNG aside, the feeling on the ground for cryogenic pumps and valves is much the same as that for the wider industry as a whole – that fresh, organic growth in the more established markets either geographically or in terms of application can be difficult to attain. Gaskin said last year that, “the industrial gas sector has been stagnant for a while.” All of which concurs with the projections in the

day in this respect. Many pumps and valves manufacturers are re-evaluating their products and working to improve or evolve these to include new features and functionality for their customers. Others are already looking to embrace the big data, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital communication movement in their next generation of products. Some companies are addressing other areas of their product ranges; HEROSE continues to extend its range of cryogenic valves in terms of size, in response to an abundance of applications. The company’s control valves are now available in larger sizes through to 10 inches, for example (see page 10). Germany-based Zwick Armaturen GmbH has witnessed increasing popularity for its triple eccentric butterfly valves, challenging the domination of sliding-stem globe and angle valves when it comes to the market for control valves. To extend the range and create an efficient high performance control valve, Zwick and Yeary Controls developed the TRISHARK triple offset butterfly valve. March 2017 | gasworld supplement | 05

ith the increase in industrialisation and power demand, the use of cryogenic equipment is on the rise as it can be used in several high end and noncyclical applications. That’s according to Research and Markets, which also cites the increase in the exploration and production of conventional and shale reserves as driving demand. This concurs with a report from MarketsandMarkets, which projects the global cryogenic equipment market to grow from an estimated $16bn in 2016 to just over $22.4bn by 2021, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% in this time frame. For cryogenic pumps in particular, the global market is projected to witness high growth on account of rising power generation from renewables. Research and Markets projects the cryogenic pump market to reach $1.96bn by 2021, at a CAGR of 3.2% from 2016 through to 2021, attributed to increasing demand for LNG from sectors such as power generation, as well as demand for medical gases in healthcare facilities. Among the various applications for which cryogenic pumps are employed, the energy and power segment is expected to be the largest market. This will likely offset any adverse effects on pump demand from the global steel business, where there are well-documented concerns over the over-capacity in the marketplace due to economic slowdown, struggling oil and gas prices, and the influx of cheap steel

product from China. Positive displacement pumps are projected to be in the highest growth mode through to 2021, says Research and Markets, due to their increasing use in industries such as energy and power, shipbuilding, food and beverages, and healthcare. Asia-Pacific is the largest regional market for these pumps, the company’s report states, due to increasing energy demand in the region. On the ground Those are some of the factors at play according to various market reports, but what’s the feeling on the ground amongst the equipment community? The outlook is mixed, especially considering the relative rise and fall in LNG prospects in recent years, but the cryogenic pumps and valves business is a part of the industry with various pockets of organic growth to be realised. The emergence of LNG as a fuel has undoubtedly provided those in the cryogenic equipment manufacturing industry with a boom in business considering this equipment is essential to facilitating the shipping and delivery of this product by road, rail or sea. Indeed, Keith Stewart – Managing Director of HEROSE UK Ltd – explains in our feature on page 10 that, “A busy LNG market increases opportunities and sales of valves, pumps, vessels and other associated products for the equipment manufacturers who supply the industrial gas markets.”

HEROSE was among a number of valves manufacturers, including Habonim, Bestobell, Mack Valves and RegO Goddard Products, to rise to the challenge in partnering LNG’s growth trajectory. But that LNG boom has been seen to ease and even contract in the last couple of years as the plunging oil price sent ripples through the many interconnected markets, the LNG business included. Duncan Gaskin, Marketing Development Manager of Parker Bestobell Valves, told gasworld last year that, “the cryogenic industry as a whole is starting to see a downturn” and the “LNG industry is seeing challenges caused by the very low oil price.” Though it has been a challenging industry to advance in of late as far as

here to stay.” LNG aside, the feeling on the ground for cryogenic pumps and valves is much the same as that for the wider industry as a whole – that fresh, organic growth in the more established markets either geographically or in terms of application can be difficult to attain. Gaskin said last year that, “the industrial gas sector has been stagnant for a while.” All of which concurs with the projections in the aforementioned reports; non-cyclical sectors aside, much growth will be derived from developing markets in the

$22bn

cryogenic valves are concerned, Gaskin expects the LNG marine sector to start to pick up again as early as 2018 and noted that as the shipping industry looks to reduce air pollutants, and with the introduction of emission control areas (ECAs), demand is expected to increase for high pressure valves that are marine approved as ship owners switch to gas burning engines. All of which points to a longterm approach of going with the flow, which is much the same for the pumps side of the business. Cryostar has always been at the forefront of cryogenic technology and very much at the coalface of the rising LNG sector and though the market has been crunched of late, President Samuel Zouaghi has confidently stated, “As for LNG – it is

period through to 2021. Valves supply for the industrial gases segment, however, is consistent if not exponential and will likely remain this way due to the fundamental nature of the industry, its requirements, and its decision-making processes. The industry is striving to identify new growth drivers right across the supply chain, and innovation is the word of the day in this respect. Many pumps and valves manufacturers are re-evaluating their products and working to improve or evolve these to include new features and functionality for their customers. Others are already looking to embrace the big data, Internet of Things (IoT) and digital communication movement in their next generation of products. Some companies are addressing other areas of their product ranges; HEROSE continues to extend its range of cryogenic valves in terms of size, in response to an abundance of

s ship owners and builders look for more environmentally friendly fuel sources, LNG (liquefied natural gas) is an increasingly attractive option, which means the correct specification of cryogenic valve is vitally important. Valves must offer high performance, longevity and be able to withstand the individual conditions of that application. Some applications, especially those involving LNG, certainly put valves to the test, requiring them to withstand the extreme temperature fluctuations – down to as low as -196ºC, through to 800C. As well as temperature, there are a wide range of other performance requirements that need to taken into account. For example, fire safety should be considered for valves to be fitted on marine applications, to ensure that the valves will not leak in the event of a fire on board a vessel. Consideration should be given to pressure, actuation and environmental forces of the application which could cause leakage problems if the right valve is not selected for the job. Cyclic thermal stresses can cause leakage during cool down and warm up operations if the design of the valve cannot compensate for extremes of temperature. Boil-off effects of a very cold liquid hitting much warmer metal should also be minimised too, with risks of pressure spikes reduced if valves are designed with minimum material mass to ensure cryogenic operating temperatures are reached as quickly as possible. It is not just the valve body that needs to cope with the extreme temperatures. Other parts, such as the spindle and gland packing, also need special attention. All cryogenic

valves for marine service have to include firesafe glands and gaskets that can stand a minimum temperature of 925°C. This ensures that they will not melt if exposed to fire, and prevent gas leaking to atmosphere and causing a fire to escalate. Selection of the correct valve needs to optimise safety and performance, giving reliability in operation and longevity. This, of course, has to be balanced against cost, the true cost being the lifetime cost of ownership of the valve. Globe valves are becoming increasingly widely specified in many industrial gas and LNG applications. Recognised by their spherical body shape, this type of valve is based on a disc or plug that aligns to a mating body seat. Their design means that a greater level of fluid or gas control is possible, therefore making globe valves more suitable to regulating and throttling service than gate or ball valves. Ball valves have only two valve positions – on or off – which gives the operator no control of the throttling operation, whereas globe valves can be controlled across the whole range from fully closed to fully open. The design of globe valves also lends itself to automation, with the addition of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical actuation. In general, ball valves are also much heavier than globe valves, therefore where boil-off is a consideration then globe valves are becoming more widely used (particularly in LNG applications). The design of globe valves means that they are less prone to seat damage and

wear, due to the valve disc moving directly away from its mating seat. In many applications, globe valves have therefore been considered to be more reliable for long-term sealing performance. However, if flow rate is an important factor, then globe valves may be less suitable to the application, as their internal shape naturally provides a higher level of flow resistance than gate and ball valves. Typical resistance factors are between five and seven – the lower the resistance factor, the better the flow characteristics. The final valves must be rigorously tested and their body and headworks must go through strict quality assurance procedures to meet Class requirements, under the 3.2 certification programme. This is a performance level defined in the European Commission’s BSEN 10204:2004 standard. Any foundry wanting to supply marine service castings has to be approved by the Class Society. For both land-based and marine applications, it is important to invest time at the outset in carefully selecting valves for a project, in order to ensure that the valve has the correct performance criteria and durability to meet what are often very testing applications.

It’s a long time since 1939 when Michael E. Mack started M.E. Mack Valves (Mack) from very humble beginnings in Melbourne, Australia with a range of locally designed and manufactured steam flow control valves. Over the years, Mack products have expanded into a range of water distribution and defence services valve products. During the mid-1970s, at the request of BOC Australia (Linde Group) and Air Liquide, Mack commenced the design and manufacture of cryogenic valves in Australia, which have since become one of the company’s primary product lines. Expansion into the AsiaPacific market brought global attention and eventually the company passed out of family ownership. Mack has also now established a second manufacturing facility in India, specifically for the design and production of cryogenic valves. For a period of 10 years from 19922002, Mack Valves was part of the US Goddard Group, supplying valves both to the US market and globally under the Goddard and Mack brands. When the company became independent again 13 years ago, it took a long time for it to reestablish itself in the US market. Challenges included finding the right distribution partners, negotiating the ASME and CRN approval process, and forecasting what kind of products needed to be stocked. Today, however, Mack considers itself to be a proud and confident participant in the north American market, supplying products to the world’s leading cryogenic and industrial gas companies. gasworld spoke exclusively to Mack Valves’ Head of Sales, Spencer Jenner, to garner his observations of trends in the North American cryogenics business and what Mack Valves is doing to drive growth.

The North American market is complex and requires attention to detail in the management of supply chain and quality. Cryogenic valves sold in North

America are either manufactured locally, or imported from Mexico, Europe or Australia, where Mack Valves’ are sourced. Besides needing approvals for the US and Canada in order to be successful in the US, companies also need to ensure they have significant stock available in the country for rapid deployment to customers. Jenner explained, “We have seen two distinct kinds of trends in our industry; procurement trends and technology. Procurement is increasingly becoming consolidated as gas majors move to a far greater share of supply to end-users. This typically leads to a reduced number of vendors for supply of cryogenic

equipment, a trend one can witness globally. There are pros and cons to this of course, however it does guarantee the majors a level of quality, safety and supply chain stability.” “We also anticipate that the buyer groups of independent gas re-sellers and manufacturers will become more active in not just sourcing molecules, but also jointly sourcing cryogenic equipment through annual rate contracts as well.” Globally, standardisation is playing a big role in moving cryogenic valves from being an engineered product to a standardised product which can be stocked and sold off shelves within

minimal lead times of just days. Interoperability between equipment starts to become important as well as a result. “The most important recent trend has been efforts to add technology to cryogenic valves, in particular, the monitoring and reporting of performance data through the Internet of Things (IoT) and also the use of QR codes for asset management, tracking and maintenance,” Jenner said. “The new Mack Valves range of cryogenic globe valves launched in 2017 are not only interoperable with the largest number of cryogenic globe valves used globally, but also come with a laser etched QR code as standard. This allows valve installation or maintenance service providers to download on their handheld devices the valve specifications, installation operations and maintenance (IOM) manuals, view actual quality and test certificates, all for that individual valve. The code also allows truck drivers filling remote tanks the ability to be able to call for service

at the press of a button, simply using a drop-down menu to report a fault with the valve, all of which can be done in less than 15 seconds.” “All customers run very lean operations and maintenance teams these days, and incorporating modern information technology into our valves means that downtime and compliance issues can be minimised or avoided, making their lives easier and guaranteeing the stability of their supply chain operations,” Jenner continued. In terms of future trends for North America, Mack Valves sees two: The first is related to electric vehicles and hydrogen mobility, a market that is starting to witness some resonance in the US. There is some experimental proof of concept trials at the moment along freeways in California and Florida. “This market will be an interesting one to watch over the next decade or so for a new trend in nonpolluting energy sources for vehicles. If successful, it will have a big impact on the entire industry,” Jenner explained. Secondly, after the latest elections, Mack anticipates that American made products may be the order of the day and the question for all cryogenic equipment providers will be whether to establish operations in the US if that becomes contingent on maintaining a healthy level of sales in North America.

“Growth has been flat for a few years, in particular after the downturn of the LNG industry. Short-term growth will come from aggressive pricing, but long-term growth will clearly be as a result of the inclusion of technology at no additional cost to the customer. This includes QR codes as well as diagnostics and prognostics capabilities on cryogenic valves, and the ability to

generate comparative data on usage, pressures, temperatures, behaviour across numerous gas lines as well as gas using sites.” In response to demand, Mack Valves inaugurated a state-of-the-art dedicated cryogenic valve facility in India in 2014 which now has approvals such as ISO 9001 and CE. In 2015 the company signed an agreement with a US distributor in Houston, where the valves are stocked today. “We continue to look for partners to stock our cryogenic valves in the rest of North America. We have obtained approvals from two gas majors and this will now help the uptake of our products in both the US and Canada. So, we have done a lot of work in the last three years to ensure that we not only have a quality, world-class product, but also at the right price and available with short delivery times to our customers in North America,” Jenner said. Besides addressing quality, supply chain stability, price and availability in the US, as of 2017, Mack’s new range of interoperable valves with QR code (the 6E range of Globe Valves) could be a game-changer as it will be the first valve in the industry to incorporate such technology. So in many ways, Mack has addressed both avenues for growth – price competitiveness and technology.

Mack Valves will increasingly be a technological innovator in the cryogenics and water markets, leveraging its group strengths in both valves as well as electronics and software for the implementation of IoT on valves. Valves will become data points, and data management will be a service that the company (and all cryogenic equipment manufacturers) will provide.

service have to include firesafe glands and gaskets that can stand a minimum temperature of 925°C. This ensures that they will not melt if exposed to fire, and prevent gas leaking to atmosphere and causing a fire to escalate. Selection of the correct valve needs to optimise safety and performance, giving reliability in operation and longevity. This, of course, has to be balanced against cost, the true cost being the lifetime cost of ownership of the valve. Globe valves are becoming increasingly widely specified in many industrial gas and LNG applications. Recognised by their spherical body shape, this type of valve is based on a disc or plug that aligns to a mating body seat. Their design means that a greater level of fluid or gas control is possible, therefore making globe valves more suitable to regulating and throttling service than gate or ball valves. Ball valves have only two valve positions – on or off – which gives the operator no control of the throttling operation, whereas globe valves can be controlled across the whole range from fully closed to fully open. The design of globe valves also lends itself to automation, with the addition of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical actuation. In general, ball valves are also much heavier than globe valves, therefore where boil-off is a consideration then globe valves are becoming more widely used (particularly in LNG applications).

The design of globe valves means that they are less prone to seat damage and wear, due to the valve disc moving directly away from its mating seat. In many applications, globe valves have therefore been considered to be more reliable for long-term sealing performance. However, if flow rate is an important factor, then globe valves may be less suitable to the application, as their internal shape naturally provides a higher level of flow resistance than gate and ball valves. Typical resistance factors are between five and seven – the lower the resistance factor, the better the flow characteristics. The final valves must be rigorously tested and their body and headworks must go through strict quality assurance procedures to meet Class requirements, under the 3.2 certification programme. This is a performance level defined in the European Commission’s BSEN 10204:2004 standard. Any foundry wanting to supply marine service castings has to be approved by the Class Society. For both land-based and marine applications, it is important to invest time at the outset in carefully selecting valves for a project, in order to ensure that the valve has the correct performance criteria and durability to meet what are often very testing applications.

$22bn (Linotype felt pen)

$22bn Estimates project the cryogenic equipment market to grow to just over $22bn by 2021

The Engineering Division within the Linde Group will be showcasing a new virtual reality (VR) application for the first time at the Gastech 2017 tradeshow in Tokyo. The technology was developed for training operators and can also be used to visualise design changes during the planning phase. It takes users on a realistic tour of a plant that Linde is currently building in the Amur region in Eastern Russia. Once it is complete, the facility will separate ethane, liquid gas components and nitrogen (N2) from natural gas. The unit will be part of one of the largest gas processing plants in the world. VR refers to computer technologies that simulate a real environment for users. Until now, it has been mainly associated with video gaming. A VR headset with an integrated 3D display gives players the feeling that they are actually present in the virtual world. Linde has now adapted this technology for the field of industrial-scale plant engineering. Users can put on a VR headset and use a hand-held controller to explore all of the module’s platforms and study its valves and compressors from every angle. They can even step inside process components such as heat exchangers and coldboxes – something that would not be possible in real life. The trainees who will later operate the real plant once it has been completed can use the VR application to prepare for their future tasks and get to know the process unit inside out. Julien Brunel, Head of Digitalisation at Linde Engineering explains, “The VR simulation is based on the extremely detailed CAD files that we created while designing the module.” The company also wants its VR

technology to be mobile. The hardware (primarily the VR headset and a very powerful laptop) fits into a specially modified hard shell case that Linde specialists will be able to take to customers in future. Any changes to the design of a plant can be immediately shown and verified in 3D using this technology. The new virtual reality application was developed at the Digital Base Camp in Pullach, Germany. This department focuses on using data intelligently to drive digitalisation across the company. It aims, for instance, to further improve Groupinternal processes and develop new services for customers. Predictive maintenance is a prime example here. In future, Linde wants to be able to predict when a component is likely to fail. To do this, it uses algorithms to evaluate data that sensors have been gathering in industrial plants for many years now. Past service incidents can be used to calculate the probability of future events. Technicians could then replace individual components in advance and minimise downtime for the entire plant. “Digitalisation will change our business and the way we work in the field of plant engineering for good,” explains Dr. Christian Bruch, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG responsible for the Engineering Division and for the Technology & Innovation Group function. “By harnessing our data, we can offer our customers completely new services and opportunities.”

VR refers to computer technologies that simulate a real environment for users. Until now, it has been mainly associated with video gaming. A VR headset with an integrated 3D display gives players the feeling that they are actually present in the virtual world. Linde has now adapted this technology for the field of industrial-scale plant engineering. Users can put on a VR headset and use a hand-held controller to explore all of the module’s platforms and study its valves and compressors from every angle. They can even step inside process components such as heat exchangers and coldboxes – something that would not be possible in real life.

The trainees who will later operate the real plant once it has been completed can use the VR application to prepare for their future tasks and get to know the process unit inside out. Julien Brunel, Head of Digitalisation at Linde Engineering explains, “The VR simulation is based on the extremely detailed CAD files that we created while designing the module.” The company also wants its VR technology to be mobile. The hardware (primarily the VR headset and a very powerful laptop) fits into a specially modified hard shell case that Linde specialists will be able to take to customers in future. Any changes to the design of a plant can be immediately shown and verified in 3D using this technology. The new virtual reality application was developed at the Digital Base Camp in Pullach, Germany. This department focuses on using data intelligently to drive digitalisation across the company. It aims, for instance, to further improve Group-internal processes and develop new services for customers. Predictive maintenance is a prime example here. In future, Linde wants to be able to predict when a component is likely to fail. To do this, it uses algorithms to evaluate data that sensors have been gathering in industrial plants for many years now. Past service incidents can be used to calculate the probability of future events. Technicians could then replace individual components in advance and minimise downtime for the entire plant. “Digitalisation will change our business and the way we work in the field of plant engineering for good,” explains Dr. Christian Bruch, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG responsible for the Engineering Division and for the Technology & Innovation Group function. “By harnessing our data, we can offer our customers completely new services and opportunities.”

$22bn Estimates project the cryogenic equipment market to grow to just over $22bn by 2021

Linde redefi plant engine

marine service have to include firesafe glands and gaskets that can stand a minimum temperature of 925°C. This ensures that they will not melt if exposed to fire, and prevent gas leaking to atmosphere and causing a fire to escalate. Selection of the correct valve needs to optimise safety and performance, giving reliability in operation and longevity. This, of course, has to be balanced against cost, the true cost being the lifetime cost of ownership of the valve. Globe valves are becoming increasingly widely specified in many industrial gas and LNG applications. Recognised by their spherical body shape, this type of valve is based on a disc or plug that aligns to a mating body seat. Their design means that a greater level of fluid or gas control is possible, therefore making globe valves more suitable to regulating and throttling service than gate or ball valves. Ball valves have only two valve positions – on or off – which gives the operator no control of the throttling operation, whereas globe valves can be controlled across the whole range from fully closed to fully open. The design of globe valves also lends itself to automation, with the addition of pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical actuation. In general, ball valves are also much heavier than globe valves, therefore where boil-off is a consideration then globe valves are becoming more widely used (particularly in LNG applications). The design of globe valves means that they are less prone to seat damage and