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  5. Bidirectional Cryogenic Floating Ball Valves Simplify LNG Piping System Design
Feature February 2026, Vol. 253, No. 2

Bidirectional Cryogenic Floating Ball Valves Simplify LNG Piping System Design

K. OHANA, Habonim, Kfar HaNassi, Israel

Cryogenic piping systems are essential for industries that handle ultra-low-temperature fluids, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied oxygen and liquefied nitrogen, among others. These systems must operate safely and efficiently under extreme conditions while minimizing cost and complexity. Traditionally, cryogenic piping system designs utilize globe valves, which have several major disadvantages, including low flowrates and complex automation. Solving these challenges with ball valves, which are either unidirectional (floating ball) or complex (trunnion ball), imposes design limitations, requiring redundant pipelines and complex, costly layouts.

The introduction of bidirectional cryogenic floating ball valves is transforming system design by enabling all the benefits of floating ball valves together with bidirectional sealing capabilities. As a result, new designs are simpler, with smaller piping sizes and footprints and are significantly less costly.

Why Bidirectional Cryogenic Floating Ball Valves Matter

Cryogenic systems often involve dynamic flow directions during operations such as loading, offloading and tank isolation. Traditionally, the system designers must choose one of the two design approaches:

Use of globe valves with bidirectional sealing capabilities requires:

  • Bigger size of valves and pipes to allow the required flow

  • Complex and costly valve automation (vertical)

Use of trunnion ball valves with bidirectional sealing capabilities requires:

  • Complex maintenance

  • Costly valves

Use of floating ball valves with unidirectional sealing capabilities requires:

  • Separate pipelines for bidirectional flow

  • Increased space, weight and installation time

Bidirectional floating ball valves eliminate these constraints, enabling:

  • Single pipeline actuators

  • A smaller valve and pipe size, without losing flowrate

  • Reduced costs

  • Simple valve automation (quarter-turn)

  • A lighter, less complex system that is easier to maintain

This design advantage is especially critical for small-scale LNG (SSLNG) systems, where space, weight and cost are at a premium (FIG. 1).

FIG. 1. A cross-cut valve.

From Globe Valves to Bidirectional Ball Valves

Traditionally, globe valves are the primary choice for cryogenic applications. While they offer bidirectional sealing, they present major drawbacks:

  • Low flow coefficient (Cv) creates bottlenecks, forcing larger valves and piping

  • Linear actuation adds complexity and cost compared to quarter-turn actuators

  • Emergency shutdown systems are harder to implement

By contrast, ball valves deliver:

  • Higher Cv per size, enabling smaller valves without sacrificing flowrate

  • Quarter-turn actuation, simplifying automation and reducing actuator size, weight and cost

  • Lower overall system weight and footprint

Replacing globe valves with bidirectional floating ball valves can reduce a system’s overall cost by up to 60%, while improving efficiency and maintainability.

Floating Ball vs. Trunnion Ball

Ball valves come in two main designs:

  • Trunnion-mounted ball valves: Traditionally used for bidirectional sealing, but are complex, heavy and expensive

  • Floating ball valves: Simpler and more cost-effective, but traditionally unidirectional due to the pressure-relief hole in the ball

The author’s company combines the simplicity of a floating ball with bidirectional sealing, eliminating the need for trunnion designs in many applications.

How Bidirectional Floating Ball Valves Work

Traditional floating ball valves were unidirectional because of a cavity pressure relief hole in the ball. This hole allowed trapped cryogenic liquid to escape when it evaporated into a gas, preventing internal overpressure in the valve. However, it compromised sealing on one side (FIG. 2).

The author’s company solved this challenge by developing patented alternative internal valve overpressure relief methods:

  • Dynamic seat technology: Seats adjust under pressure to relieve cavity buildup pressure without losing sealing integrity

  • Integrated pressure relief mechanisms: Embedded devices inside the ball act as a relief valve that opens only when the internal valve cavity pressure exceeds a preset limit

These solutions allow unconditional bidirectional sealing under full differential pressure (Δp), while maintaining safety and simplicity.

FIG. 2. A floating bidirectional ball valve.

System-Level Benefits

The impact of using bidirectional floating ball valves on cryogenic piping system design is significant:

Cost savings:

  • Capital expenditure (CAPEX): By allowing the use of smaller valves and pipes, lighter support systems, and simpler and cost-effective automation, the initial system costs can be reduced to less than half

  • Operating expenditure (OPEX): Smaller and simpler valves and actuators require less maintenance and are easier to use. Over the system's lifespan, maintenance costs are significantly reduced

Space optimization: Smaller valves and piping free up valuable space

Time efficiency: Faster installation and simpler automation

Environmental impact: Allow the use of fugitive emissions approved valves without additional costs

Operational Advantages

Bidirectional floating ball valves simplify operations in LNG systems with:

  • Loading and offloading: A single pipeline can handle both directions, reducing infrastructure complexity

  • Tank isolation: Valves maintain full sealing even under back-pressure conditions

  • Emergency shutdown: Quarter-turn actuation enables rapid response compared to linear actuators

These advantages translate into lower maintenance requirements, improved reliability and enhanced safety for critical cryogenic applications.

Applications

Cryogenic ball valves are optimal for:

  • Terminals: Managing LNG transfer between ships, tanks and trucks

  • Shipping: Controlling flow to dual-fuel engines

  • Tankers: Filling, draining and backup between tanks

  • Dispensers: Delivering LNG to trucks onshore

Compliance and Reliability

Bidirectional cryogenic floating ball valvesa are designed and tested in accordance with British Standard (BS) 6364 and transportable pressure equipment directive (TPED) standards, and certified by major marine classification societies, including Lloyd’s Register, DNV-GL, ABS, Bureau Veritas, RINA and the Korean Register. They also feature the Total HermetiX integrity package, ensuring zero fugitive emissions, certified to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15848-1 and American Petroleum Institute (API) 641 standards.

As LNG and SSLNG markets grow, bidirectional floating ball valves will play a key role in compact modular systems for bunkering and fueling; green energy initiatives, reducing emissions and supporting carbon capture; and automation-ready designs for smart terminals and ships.

The demand for cost-effective, space-saving solutions will continue to rise, making bidirectional valves an essential component in next-generation cryogenic systems.

Takeaway

Bidirectional cryogenic floating ball valves are more than a component — they are a design enabler. By allowing optimal pipe design, reducing system size and simplifying automation, they deliver higher return on investment and sustainability for LNG and cryogenic applications.

NOTE

a Habonim’s bidirectional cryogenic floating ball valves

About the Author

KFIR OHANA has more than 12 yrs of experience in process and piping projects, leading the cryogenic and high-pressure product portfolio at Habonim.

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