Sheffield Company Secures First Major High Pressure Gas Fuel Valve Contract

11th September 2014

Innovative new high pressure valves, developed in Sheffield, will be used in some of the first ships to be built to run on environmentally friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) after Bestobell Marine secured its first order with DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd) in South Korea.

Sheffield-based Bestobell Marine has developed the innovative new Globe valves over the past two years, in conjunction with DSME, to meet the exacting standards required for the valves in the new fuel gas systems, which includes withstanding extremely high pressures. The valves are due for delivery at the end of 2014. Bestobell Marine is currently the only manufacturer of high pressure cryogenic Globe valves for use in ships' gas fuelled engines with the necessary Class Approvals, certification and 3.2 traceability on all components. Duncan Gaskin, Sales Director for Bestobell, said: -It is very exciting to be supplying our new high pressure Globe valves for the first time for a gas fuelled engine application. DSME chose to work with us on this high profile project because of our experience and understanding of regulations in the marine industry and in dealing with the Class Societies. There is huge potential for our high pressure Globe valves and we are currently in advanced discussions to supply these valves for several other international gas fuel projects.   The valves are designed to stand a maximum pressure of 370 Bar and will be fitted in the gas phase piping of the fuel gas system. Here the LNG is injected into the engine at around 300bar pressure, with the valve and piping system designed to withstand these pressures. The valves will be installed on the five 174K LNGC (Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers) being built by DSME on behalf of Teekay LNG Partners LP of Canada*. Teekay LNG Partners selected new MAN B&W, 2-stroke 5G70ME-GI gas injection engines to power the vessels in an industry first for DSME. The ME-GI engine uses high-pressure gas injection to allow it to provide a more environmentally friendly option to the marine industry, due to less CO2 emissions. Bestobell Marine is already developing another range of valves that can operate up to a maximum pressure of 500Bar to meet marine industry demands. Bestobell Valves has been a world-leader in the manufacture of cryogenic valves for industrial gas applications for over 50 years and has 15 years' experience in supplying to the LNG marine markets. Bestobell's Valves are widely used on LNG Carriers, FLNG (Floating Production & Storage Units) and FSRUs (Floating, Storage & Re-gasification Units). Bestobell's Marine division designs and produces valves to meet specific requirements in the marine sector and has supplied cryogenic valves to a majority of the major shipyards building LNG Carriers. For more information visit the website www.bestobellvalves.com or call +44 (0) 1142 240000.