NG2SHIPI/F - New-generation Natural Gas Ship
Overview
Background & policy context:
This project will contribute to a more competitive liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain, and strengthen the technological leadership of European shipyards, which today are facing fierce competition from Asian companies. The project could also result in a € 3 million p.a. cargo pump industry in Europe, thus creating an alternative supply source to US and Far East suppliers. It opens the door to a potential € 1 million p.a. retrofit market for European LNG carrier repair shipyards and equipment suppliers, and to international freshwater trading. It paves the way for setting innovation and affordable, competitive and more environmentally friendly design and operating standards for LNG carriers and terminals.
Objectives:
The objectives of this project were:
- to develop and demonstrate an LNG cargo pump enabling a 20% reduction in its operating time;
- to develop more efficient LNG cargo transfer lines, demonstrating an 80% improvement in their thermal performances, with improved insulation systems;
- to develop a new concept of insulation for the LNG cargo tanks, demonstrating a 20-40% reduction in boil-off -related CO2 emissions during harbour manoeuvres;
- to demonstrate the feasibility of using diesel-electric LNG carriers as co-generation units providing power and hot water to regasification terminals.
The main benefits expected from this project were:
For shipyards and LNG carrier operations:
- a manufacturing cost reduction of more than € 2 million per ship; and
- a yearly operational cost reduction of up to € 5 million.
For terminals:
- a 20% increased capacity;
- reduced boil-off emissions during ship manoeuvres and transfer operations;
- the creation of a new role for freshwater providers to LNG exporting countries;
- access to a competitive co-generation source, and exploitation of the regasification cooling power.
Methodology:
The activities undertaken and the research methods employed in the NG2SHIPI/F project were pursued in the following Work Packages:
- WP1: coordination;
- WP2: cargo pump: trade-off and conceptual studies, electrical motor technology assessment, electrical architecture optimisation, pump preliminary design, forerunner building for further tests in WP6;
- WP3: transfer lines insulation: improvement of foam insulation formulation at cryogenic temperature, foam insulation creep behaviour at cryogenic temperature, insulation of transfer line components, loading arms insulation studies, optimisation of piping mechanical brackets;
- WP4: tank insulation: feasibility and performance tests performed on foam insulation, thermal analysis, feasibility of retrofit on an existing carrier;
- WP5: co-generation I/F: power generation interface definition;
- WP6: cargo pump demo: test-bench modification and acceptance, demonstrator manufacturing, assembly and acceptance, demo tests performance, test-bench reconditioning;
- WP7: transfer lines insulation demo: equipment insulation demonstration tests, loading arm insulation demonstration tests;
- WP8: tank insulation demo: thermal model on existing LNG carrier, test on the existing LNG carrier;
- WP9: knowledge management and dissemination plan.
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