lpg/lng cargo handling
TRANSCRIPT
LPG/LNG cargo handling
• Inerting (izlaz iz doka)• Gassing-up• Cooling-down (tanks)• Loading• Refrigiration (for LPG Carriers)• Discharging• Inerting (if changing cargo or aerating) (ulaz u
d.)• Aerating (degazation)
Inerting
• By displacement method • low speed of inert gas• abt. 4 changing of tank volume• entering of IG on top or bottom of tank (depending
of specific density)
• By mixing of inert gas and gas residues• high speed of IG entering (mixing)
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Inerting by displacement method
VAPOUR HEADER
LIQUID HEADER
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
liquid vapour
Inerting of cargo tanks by ship's plant
Gassing-up
• For passing fm.inerted to loaded condition• Inert gas has uncondensable gases
(Nitrogen and CO2 can not be condensed by ship’s reliquefaction plant)
• problem w. reliquifaction plant (condenser)
• Venting to atmosphere or return to shore until tank is full with next cargo vapour
Gassing-up
• Gassing-up at sea (available to fully or semi-pressurised ships) – often with deck tanks
• Gassing-up using cargo from shore• Before commencing gasing-up O2 contents
must be less then 5% for LPG-s, and for some terminals less than 0.5%, or even less – for Vinyl Cloride
Gassing-up
• Compressors for reliquefaction can be started after gas concentration into tank reach at least 90%
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Gassing-up cargo tanks using liquid fm. shore
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Gassing-up cargo tanks using vapour fm. shore
Cooling-down• For preventing excesive pressure during loading
or transporting• Spraying cargo liquid into a tank at a slow rate –
evaporation/expansion• Cooling-down rate depends of the tanks design
and size – abt. 10oC per hour• Inert gas – cargo vapour mixture goes to vent
riser (atmosphere) or reliquefaction plant (problem with noncondensable gases – constant condenser venting)
Cooling-down
• Cargo tank cooling-down reduces temperature into hold space or interbarrier spaces – pressure drop
• Pressure drop into interbarrier or hold space should be compensated with inert gas or dry air
• During coolin-down water (moisture) or remain inert gas could couse big problems (pumps, valves and other equipment could stuck up)
LIQUID HEADER
VENT HEADERINERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Cool-down using liquid from shore: vapour returned to shore
Loading the cargobefore
• Ship / shore preloading plan • Cargo characteristics, inhibitors and inert
gas to be used• Before loading attention to be paid:
• safety valves settings and h.p. alarm settings • remotely operated valves• reliquefaction equipment• gas detection system• alarms and controls• ESD (Emergency Shut Down)
Loading
• Vapourisation control (LPG ships):• vapour return line connected to gas compressor• reliquefaction plant – liquid return to tanks• combination of above
• Vapourisation control (LNG ships):• return to shore is normal procedure (no reliq. plant)• return by ship’s compressors or compressors from
shore – max. loading rate limitation
VAPOUR HEADER
LIQUID HEADER
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
liquid vapour
Loading with vapur return to shore
VAPOUR HEADER
LIQUID HEADER
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
liquid vapour
Loading without vapour return
Loading fully refrigirated ships
• Usually from fully refrigirated storage (jetty)• Long distance btw. shore storage and ship
and high ambient temperature can couse tank pressure remaining problem, specially in early stages;
• loading rate must be reduced to give a time reliq. plant for cooling down cargo tank
• loading limited quantities of liquid into the tank via the top sprays – helping condensate some cargo
Loading pressurised ships
• Arriving at a loading terminal at atmospheric pressure
• Need vapour from shore to purge remaining nitrogen or contaminants from tanks – equalise pressures btw. ship and terminal
• Tank and pipeline temperature must not fall bellow design temperature – slow rate at the beginning
Loading pressurised ships from refrigirated storage
• Tanks suitable for min. temperature btw. 0 and –5oC
• Cargo should be heated (pumping through cargo heater on board or shore)
• Attention to be paid for topping of (max. 98% at max. temperature reached during the voyage)
Loading semi-pressurised ships from refrigirated storage
• Cargo tanks constructed of low temperature steels – able to accomodate fully refrigirated propan (-40 and –50oC) or for ethylene -104oC
• Refrigirated cargo can be loaded without heating• Cargo temperature can be maintained during
loaded voyage by reliq. plant – if discharged to refrigirated storage
• Cargo can be heated during loaded voyage if discharged into pressurised facilities
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Cargo refrigiration at sea
Cargo refrigiration at sea
• By reliquefaction plant • Compressor should not be run during heavy
rolling• Condensate is passed through the top sprayes –
cooling down the liquid surface (the bulk of the liquid has not been cooled)
• To cool down bulk of the liquid condensate return should be through the bottom connection of the tank to ensure proper circulation
Cargo refrigiration at sea
• Reliquefaction plant run on more than one tank simultaneosly – carefully controled condensate return (to avoid overfilling of any one tank)
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Discharge without vapour return
Discharging
• Method depends on type of ship, cargo specification and terminal storage;
• Discharge by pressurising the vapour space– shore vapor suply or vaporiser and compressor on board
• Discharge with or without booster pumps– discharging limited by pipeline diametar– booster pump – for long distances or higher levels
• Discharge via booster pump and cargo heater– when discharged from refrigirated ship to pressurised
terminals
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
liquid vapour
Discharge with vapour return
After discharge
• Draining tanks and pipelines• Pump discharge valve should not be throtteled for
flow control if the pump is operating with a booster pump (can damage pump)
• Cargo must be drained from all deck lines and cargo hoses or hard arms – by compressor (from ship to shore) or by blowing the liquid into ship’s tanks using nitrogen injected at the base or apex of the hard arm
• Only after depressuring all deck lines and purging with nitrogen ship/shore connection can be broken
liquid vapour
CONDENSATE RETURN LINE
VENT HEADER
INERT GAS HEADER
LIQUID HEADER
Reliquefaction
VapourCompressor
L.P.G.Vaporizer
Inert Gas Generator
L.P.G.Heater
Air Blower
VAPOUR HEADER
Aeration of cargo tanks
Ballast voyage
• Small quantity of cargo retain on bord (heel)• only if the same grade of cargo will be loaded
• For large LNG carriers 2000 to 3000 m3
may be retained in the tanks – fitted with spray cool-down pumps in each cargo tank to minimise tank thermal gradients
• On LPG-s small amount of liquid remaining to provide necessary cooling during ballast voyage – by using reliquefaction plant
Amonia – special procedures• When changing from amonia to LPG most traces of vapours
must be removed (remaining volume quantity - 20ppm)• Amonia – when evaporating to air is particulary likely to
reach super-cooled condition – all liquid must be removed• For amonia the inert gas plant must not be used as the
ship’s inert gas plant is not suitable – carbamate formation• Blowing warm fresh air into system – disperzing amonia
vapour• Sometimes washing with fresh water (amonia is highly water
soluble) – not suitable for prismatic tanks (for tanks with minimum internal structure - full drainage, clean and rust free tanks)
Amonia – special procedures• All traces of water must be removed (preventing
formation of ice or hydrats) – fixed or portable pumps
• High solubility of amonia in water (300:1) can lead to dangerous vacum condition in tank – to ensure essential air entry into the tank during water washing proces – air dew point must be lower than the tank atmosphere
Cargo compatibilities