TECHNOLOGY FOR ONSHORE DISTRIBUTION OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FOR ENERGY APPLICATION AND VEHICLE FUELING

摘要

Growing interest in direct distribution of LNG to gas end-users stimulates development of technology. Growing size of vacuum insulated LNG pressure tanks makes possible realization of large liquefier storage, back up plants and satellite stations with this technology. When used as liquefier storage at elevated pressure, 2 bar, e.g., energy savings of the liquefaction process may achieve 10%, compared to atmospheric storage in flat bottom tanks. These savings justify multiple installations of large vacuum insulated tanks with tens of units at a single plant. Also the size of satellite station for re-gasification of LNG at local customers tends to large installations in volumes of several thousand m~3 liquid. Examples of installations and their parameters will be presented, including vacuum insulated tanks with capacity of 1000 m~3. These sizes make possible planning large back-up plants for peak shaving deliveries to major pipeline systems or for production of electricity in periods of extreme consumption. Another trend is building small onshore liquefiers for diversification of energy mix and regional distribution. This makes possible gasification of rarely inhabited regions and conversion of vehicle fleets to LNG or CNG.