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Distributed liquefied natural gas infrastructure: design of the next generation of liquefiers.

Author(s) : BARCLAY M., GONGAWARE D.

Summary

Distributed liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure is starting to develop with the recent commissioning and start up of multiple distributed-scale natural gas liquefaction plants. Installations of this nature will continue to play a role in LNG energy infrastructure development because they offer several benefits over larger-scale LNG production and distribution networks. Distributed-scale LNG economics compete very well against those of traditional larger plants by utilizing lower-cost methane gas sources such as shut-in gas wells, off-spec gas wells, and landfill gas. These plants are attractive because they offer competitive capital costs on a per gallon basis, shorter delivery times of less than a year, smaller footprints, less project management, and higher capital utilization during market penetration periods. The paper discusses the importance of how design choices, layout, and feedstock impact on the economics of distributed scale liquefaction plant. Additionally the design challenges and operational experiences from two such local liquefaction plants are used as basis for comparison. The authors' design, commissioning, and start-up experiences at approximately 800-gallon per day landfill gas to LNG pilot plant and approximately 5000-gallon per day commercial shutin gas well liquefaction plant are presented. The lessons learned from these plants are summarized to offer insight into directions for future design improvements. The discussion follows with suggestions for improved mechanical and thermodynamic design, packaging, in-house testing, and field operations that should decrease capital and operating costs. A case is presented to show how the success of distributed-scale LNG plants, as part of the development of a fully integrated, distributed energy infrastructure, will depend on how adequately future local liquefaction plants address these design challenges.

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Details

  • Original title: Distributed liquefied natural gas infrastructure: design of the next generation of liquefiers.
  • Record ID : 2005-0543
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 21st IIR International Congress of Refrigeration: Serving the Needs of Mankind.
  • Publication date: 2003/08/17

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