Indra Srl’s valves utilised across the LNG chain

Founded in 1987, Indra Srl is a family owned company which has grown over the years and is currently at the forefront in the design and manufac-ture of ball and needle valves. The company designs and manufactures ball and needle valves in various configurations and diameters, from integral double block &amp; bleed and split body versions to manifold for instrumentation, produced according to the most stringent quality standards of safety and efficiency. Over the years, as a result of the trust that customers have placed in the company by becoming key customers themselves, Indra has managed to become a leader in the domestic market. This has allowed the company to gain more confidence in its own qualities, and to decide to expand worldwide, approaching the most important EPC and end users.Main sectors and applicationsIndra&rsquo;s valves are widely used in the oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical, offshore platforms, energy, and LNG sectors &ndash; used as components of plants and machinery with very high value and technological content.Diversification is another key element for Indra: the company has recently developed the LNG market with many positive results, and embraced the future of hydrogen, selecting a special valve portfolio dedicated to this market.For LNG, some key customers &ndash; recognising the high standards of reliability and safety of the products &ndash; have relied on Indra for the design, construction and supply of valves in this sector.The company has made significant investments to reach new customers in this particular sector, with positive results.Supplies have been provided for some of the main projects in the LNG sec-tor (mainly cryogenic DBB, SBB, and needle valves). Examples of projects in which Indra has taken part include: Arctic LNG (1 &amp; 2), Yamal LNG, Mozambique LNG, Golden Pass LNG, and Calcasieu Pass LNG. ProductionAll Indra&rsquo;s products are made from the most standard materials, with the availability of exotic materials for critical applications (Duplex, Super Duplex, Monel, etc.).The valves&rsquo; production can be completed with complementary materials and accessories, something that makes Indra a reliable partner for those companies that supply packages of various matching goods.All raw materials are from Western Europe and Italy &ndash; no Chinese or Indian materials are handled in the production.Indra is ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certified and the headquarters can be found in Magenta, west of Milan, in a 4000 m2 building &ndash; 3000 m2 of which is designated as production area. The company is currently building its sales network around the world through various agents.All production processes are carried out internally; from management of the request to shipment of the final product, Indra has complete control &ndash; able to supply qualified and 100% tested in-house products.Technical features of cryogenic valvesWhen considering Indra&rsquo;s cryogenic valves&rsquo; design, starting with temperature, generally a subdivision into two classes is made: Low temperature (-50&deg;C / -109&deg;C).Cryogenics (-110&deg;C / -196&deg;C).Ball and needle valves for cryogenic service are used at extremely low temperatures, down to -196&deg;C. These valves are widely used in various sectors such as the production, transport, and storage of gas, offering adequate performance for these types of service.All valves are equipped with a cryogenic extension to ensure the highest efficiency in the system. The height of the stem extension is sized in accordance with the main standards on the subject (BS, ISO, MESC), and in any case according to the characteristics of the system where they will be destined.Bonnet extension is also an important feature to select a cryogenic valve. Division is made between:Cold box extension: Bonnet extension that moves the operating mechanism and the valve stem seals out of the &lsquo;cold box&rsquo; insulation.Non cold box extension: bonnet extension used for valves that are individually insulated.In-house testValves are 100% tested in-house thanks to the appropriate cryogenic test bench and according to the most common specifications. The cryogenic test is used to check the tightness of the valve at low temperatures by flushing liquid nitrogen inside a closed and isolated environment &ndash; the cryogenic tank. The valves are tested at the specific operating pressure of the class they belong to.Performing a cryogenic test requires special timing: the cryogenic tank needs to be prepared, the flanged connections must be prepared, and, very importantly, the valve needs to be gradually brought to the desired temperature. It starts with the flushing of liquid nitrogen into the tank. When the required temperature is reached, the gas for the test is introduced into the valve at the pressure indicated by the testing procedure. During the test, any leaks are detected and quantified by the appropriate control bench or by using the special mass spectrometer to detect leaks towards the outside of the valve (fugitive emission). The temperature is kept constant and monitored by a thermocouple inserted inside the valve which displays the exact temperature value on a display. At the end of the test, the valve is depressurised and gradually brought back to room temperature.The tank where the valves are positioned is made of stainless steel and the walls have special insulation to isolate them from the external environment. The tank is also equipped with an insulated lid and appropriate inlet/outlet points for controlling the flow of liquid nitrogen, which is flushed into the tank by a special cylinder containing liquid nitrogen. The valve operating devices are also brought outwards, which are activated during the test. The cryogenic tank allows the valves that are to be tested to be comfortably contained with all the accessories necessary for the test, and is defined on the basis of what is required in the main technical standards in this regard:BS 6364.ISO 28921.MESC 77/306.Cryogenic service can be applied to several applications, including LNG, oil and gas, FPSO/ FRSU, food, energy, pharmaceutical, petrochemical and transportation.Indra is involved with many of these applications, mainly focusing on LNG and being involved with hydrogen markets of the future. The demand of LNG is continuously increasing and used in several projects, which is related to the goal of decarbonisation that has to be achieved glob-ally by 2030.Company featuresThe corporate hallmarks are the 100% &lsquo;made in Italy&rsquo; production and the &lsquo;tailor made&rsquo; approach. Indra&rsquo;s mission is to offer customers reliable products with very high levels of control and attention to quality &ndash; which is fundamental importance.The experience in understanding the typical installations, the choices of innovation, and maximum versatility, has allowed Indra to develop customised solutions according to the specific needs of customers.Attention to customer requests and needs has distinguished Indra from competitors, in fact, the size of the company favours flexibility on the mar-ket, in terms of customisation of products and deliveries.The company&rsquo;s strengths can be summarised into several categories. Flexibility in deliveries.Customised solutions designed on specific customer needs.Ability to adapt to the market, maintaining competitiveness in terms of prices. The tank where the valves are positioned is made of stainless steel and the walls have special insulation to isolate them from the external environment. The tank is also equipped with an insulated lid and appropriate inlet/outlet points for controlling the flow of liquid nitrogen, which is flushed into the tank by a special cylinder containing liquid nitrogen.

Indra Srl’s valves utilised across the LNG chain

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