How to Select a Cryogenic Butterfly Valve for LNG, Liquid Oxygen, or Liquid Nitrogen?

12-08-2025

Cryogenic applications aren’t just “cold”—they’re ultra-cold.
We’re talking -196°C (-321°F) for liquid nitrogen (LN₂) and even colder for liquid helium.

If you’re in the U.S. energy, gas, or medical sector, you’ve probably searched:

“Cryogenic butterfly valve for LNG transfer”
“Liquid nitrogen valve supplier”
“China cryogenic valve manufacturer”
“Triple offset valve for low temperature”

So how do you pick the right one?

1. Understanding Cryogenic Valve Challenges

Cryogenic fluids:

Cause extreme material contraction
Can embrittle regular metals
Require extended bonnet designs to keep stem packing above cold zone
Need seals that maintain elasticity even at ultra-low temps

Miss these, and your valve will fail—sometimes dramatically.

2. Key Features of a True Cryogenic Butterfly Valve

At Shanghai Rogers Valve, our cryogenic valves offer:

Extended bonnet for safe stem sealing
Triple eccentric sealing design for tight shut-off
Special stainless steel or nickel alloys for cryogenic durability
PTFE, RPTFE, or metal seats engineered for low-temp flexibility
Helium leak testing to ensure absolute sealing integrity

Yes, they look similar to regular butterfly valves—but internally, they’re a whole different beast.

3. Common U.S. Applications

LNG storage & ship loading arms
Liquid oxygen & nitrogen pipelines
Cryogenic chemical plants
Rocket fuel handling (LOX, LH₂)
Medical gas distribution

One U.S. customer told us, “We swapped in your cryogenic valves and got zero leakage over a year.” That’s the kind of feedback we like.

4. Testing and Standards

We comply with:

BS 6364 (Cryogenic valves)
API 598 (Pressure & seat tests)
ISO 28921 (LNG service valves)

Every cryogenic valve is cold-tested in liquid nitrogen before shipping—no exceptions.

Choosing a cryogenic butterfly valve is about safety, reliability, and proven material compatibility.
And remember—when sourcing from a China cryogenic valve supplier like us, you can get customization, compliance, and competitive pricing all in one.