THE CONFIGURATION OF SMALL-SCALE LNG TERMINALS TODAY AND FOR THE FUTURE ?
GASTECH 2017 • 4-7 April 2017 • Makuhari Messe Chiba, Tokyo • Japan
Hans – J. Grossmann ,
GOC Engineering GmbH
■ Introduction
■ Main characteristics
■ Market situation
■ Terminal configuration
■ Modularization
■ Safety and permitting
■ Conclusions
Grossmann Hans - GOC 2
Content
Grossmann Hans - GOC 3
Introduction
■ Ultra-small-scale LNG facilities are commonly LNG Fuel stations with a storage capacity of approx. 30 m³– 70 m³
■ Small-scale LNG facilities for LNG bunkering/local distribution with storage capacity up to 10000 m³, could be LNG fuel stations too
■ Mid-scale LNG terminals up to 50 000 m³ storage capacity are in usage as peak shaving plant or actual as fuel storage e.g. for smaller power plants . A typical size for regional distribution of LNG
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Main Characteristics Ultra-small-scale facilities
■ Pressurized storage vessels < < 500 m³
■ Send out LNG mainly
■ LNG fueling station for trucks
■ CNG fueling for trucks/cars
■ (LNG fueling of inland vessels)
Source: Gasum
Grossmann Hans - GOC 5
Main Characteristics Small-scale I
■ Pressurized storage vessels up to 1000 m³ x n
■ LNG loading for LNG bunker vessels
■ LNG loading for road tankers
o Send out system to gas grid
o LNG Truck fueling station
o LNG bunker station for ships
Source: Chart/public domain
FIC
LNG Pump
LNG from/to
Truck
Vapor Return
ERC
PT LT LZHTT
PT FT TT
PBU
LNG to Bunkering
(Vapor Return)
ERC
ERC
ERC
PT
PT
FT
TT
HC
Optional
BOG Handling
LNG Storage Tank
Others
Gas grid
LIN CoolingPT
LNG(LCNG Fuel Station
HP Pump + Vaporizer ( NG to a gas grid)
Typical Configuration Small-Scale LNG
Bunkering
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Main Characteristics Small-scale II
■ Key players in competition with project partners from other business involved (new stakeholders)
■ Sites in urban areas
■ Competition with other technologies / market player (Oil price discussion)
■ Less investments (niche area with ref to financing)
■ Local acceptance varies (NIMBY, street)
■ Expansion plans risky mainly speculative, contract duration
■ Could be greenfield but mainly on existing industrial or urban areas
■ Authorities have not a clear view of permit issuesSource. public domain
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Main Characteristics Mid-scale I
■ Cryogenic low pressure site erected flat bottom tanks
■ Send out system with LNG export pumps
■ Send out system LNG in gaseous form
■ Loading for LNG bunker vessels
■ LNG loading facilities for road tankers
■ BOG Handling System
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Main Characteristics Mid-scale II
■ Key players in competition with project partners from other business involved (new stakeholders)
■ Moderate investments
■ Local acceptance and support
■ Expansion plans limited
■ Only few number of terminals per country
■ Number of projects goes up
Source. Skangass/public domain
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Market Situation Two faces I
■ Increased environmental restrictions gives pressure on Ship-owner, investor, financer to decide on replacements/investments
■ Trade expected to raise , no shortfall of LNG
■ Market share of LNG Spot cargo (< 2 years contracts) is substantial
■ New players enters the market
■ “Environmental-friendly” becomes a marketing tool for a wider range within the industry
■ Still areas of the world needs more energy, and environmental issues extends the need for a more cleaner energy source
■ A small infrastructure with LNG fueled ships / small LNG loading points creates a the end the need for medium scale LNG distributions terminals (e.g. Baltic sea)
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Market Situation Two faces II
■ Base load terminals e.g. in Europe under-utilized
■ Land base projects stagnate (FID`s not decided)
■ Exiting terminals adding small scale facilities as extra services
■ Low oil price still attracts ship owner (cost for conversion to LNG 30% plus)
■ Don’t forget Floating storage options also in medium size terms
■ A robust business market/trade pattern is still not in place
■ Investments/financing only in functional business environmental
■ Number of expected ships running to be still lowSource. public domain
Table 1: Capacities and tank size
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Storage volume
Class| m³
Storage *) Capacity
metric ton
Loading capacity Metric ton
Operations
Truck fuel tank
**
40 ft ISO container
max. truck fueling
Max ISO container
LNG bunker Vessel
I 50 23 0,240 20 95 Not feasible Not feasible
II 100 46 0,240 20 191 2 Not feasible
III 500 230 0,240 20 958 11 Not feasible
IV 1000 460 0,240 20 1916 23 Not feasible
V 5000 2300 0,240 20 Yes Yes Up to 5000m³ class
VI 10000 4600 0,240 20 Yes Yes Up to 7500 m³ class
*) density LNG 460kg/m³ @ -160°C ;**) single tank
Note: A 40ft ISO container represents a typical bunker capacity for an inland ship/ coastal ferry,
could also be a LNG truck operation.
Terminal Configuration Throughput I
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Terminal Configuration Throughput II
■ Class I (50 m³ storage) sufficient to fuel close to 100 trucks
■ ISO container filling service (e.g. for a ship bunker operation) is not feasible as it will empty your tank directly
■ Class II (100 m³) onwards, need for a good mixing of services. As a robust market is still not in place it will be hard to rely on a single service (e.g. truck fueling) only
■ Limitation Truck fueling: installed number of LNG dispensers
■ Class IV (1000 m³), good size to start with ship bunker operation e.g. a small ferry operator using up to 1000 t /p.a.
Source: Nauticor
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Terminal Configuration Throughput III
■ Class VI (10000 m³) gives you max flexibility in LNG bunker operations and trading LNG with truck/ISO container
■ A single LNG supply contract for a medium scale container vessel can generate an annual LNG supply volume of 35- 40 TSD t per year!
l
Source: Public domain
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Terminal Configuration Not enough costumer
■ Modern BOG Handling system is needed
■ Re-liquefaction with nitrogen, Inside tank/outside with HEX
■ Back to a Gas grid (peak shaving)
■ Fuel for CHP
■ Second fuel option in neighborhood
■ Pressurized insulated (mostly vacuum) tanks have the comfort of a long holding time in case of no send out and at low pressure (50 days +, depends on liquid level)
Source: ENGIE
Grossmann Hans - GOC 15
Terminal Configuration Warm/cold LNG I
■ Typical temperature/pressure figures:
Cryogenic low pressure flat bottom tank
Design pressure. 0,150- 0,300 bargOperation pressure 0,1 bargStorage temperature -160°C @ OP
Pressurized vacuum insulated tanks Design pressure. 10 bargOperation pressure 5 bargStorage temperature -134,8°C
Source: public domain
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Terminal Configuration Warm/cold LNG II
■ Pressurize storage systems allows to store energy into the stored product
■ This give you a flexibility in operation
Design pressure 10 barg Operation pressure range 1 - 5 - 8 barg Storage temperature -134,8 °C
■ To operate the pressure tanks also at low pressure (e.g. 2 bara)
allows to load a LNG bunker vessel at a higher pressure
with subcooled LNG
No vapor handling in the ship tank is required !
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Modularization Objectives I
■ Operational purpose >> Change of operations such as truck filling, truck fueling, ship fueling, LNG bunker ship loading
>> define a base case
>> define operation/expansion strategy
■ Location of the facility >> Spacing strategy
■ Technical constrains >> >>Size/type /orientation of storage tanks
■ Safety an environmental constrains >> Stakeholder, neighborhood
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Safety & Permitting Terminal extension I
A larger inventory leads normally to intensive permit discussion:
■ Increase of inventory with considerable enlargement of a single mass>> Increase of the stored LNG inventory (above 200 to)
■ Increase of throughput>> Frequency of truck fueling operations, adding of LNG bunkering services
>> Infrastructure/accessibility
■ Environmental aspects>> FSRUs on waterways in Europe ?
Source: DUSUP
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Safety & Permitting Terminal extension II
■ Increase / variation of operation parameters, such as pressure and/or temperature
>> LP LNG and HP CNG
■ Introduction of a new process/ or operation
>>from truck fueling to truck/container loading
■ Increase / Introduction of a new more hazardous medium
>> add hydrogen fueling station (“multi-service station”)
Introduction of a new process/ or operation
■ Siting/ relocation of safety-related systems towards protected areas
>>truck fueling/ ship fueling close to your LNG storage
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Safety & Permitting Terminal extension IV
■ Consequences
o More hazards >> increase safety distances, more risks
o Difficult if not considered at project start
o A wrong or to0 “fast” siting could create problems!
o You may be trapped without having change to expand your facility, e.g. to install a large horizontal storage tank (s).
o Further typical siting mistake is insufficient accessibility / waiting areas for trucks
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Safety & Permitting View from Authorities
It happens
Source: Brandweer BRZO/NL
Conclusions
■ Increase in LNG inventory leads to permit discussion, therefore carefully review your terminal requirements now and in medium term future
■ Extract the “ nice to have” systems from your project
■ Look also to pumping capacity/ max pressure / Infrastructure
■ Invest in a robust site selection evaluation
■ Apply for a moderate storage capacity/project size
■ Start an early dialog with lead authority
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Conclusions
■ Take action to stimulate innovations ( “clean”, “green”, “safe”, “better”)
■ To be prepared before the market awakes
■ Transfer a moderate risk in the next project phase only
■ Key decision factors of clients:
Price flexibility (volume) supply security (LNG Spot) contract duration (competition is growing)
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Hans –J. Grossmann
GOC Engineering GmbH
Ubierstr. 83
53173 Bonn, Germany
www.goce.de
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