DieselShip

Gas Carriers

Gas carriers take liquid which occupies about 1/600 of the volume it would occupy as a gas.

Two different forms are carried; Liquid Petroleum Gas which is mainly propane and butane, and Liquid Natural Gas which is mainly methane. Critical factors in the carriage of gas in liquid form are the boiling point tempo at atmospheric pressure and the critical tempo ( this is the temperature above which the gas cannot be liquified no matter what the pressure.

The type of containment vessel used for the cargo will differ depending upon the desired tempo and pressure ( the tempo must always be below the critical ).

In general low pressures may be used if the tempo is kept low, alternately higher temperature may be used but higher pressures are required. LNG

LNG has a boiling point of -162^oC at atmospheric pressure and a critical tempo at 47 bar of -82^oC, suitable containment conditions allow the carriage of LNG at different tempo and pressure.

LPG

LPG comprises many different gases which have different boiling points and critical temperature, carriage requirements vary between atmospheric pressure and 18 bar and -100^oC to -5^oC

For smaller ships carrying LPG, pressurised systems are generally used, these employ spherical or cylindrical tanks. However, there is a considerable loss of space. With higher pressures ( up to 18 bar) no reliquifacation plant is fitted and no insulation is required. Relief valves are used to protect the system.

Recompression of boil off gas may be employed.

Systems employing pressurised tanks may be partly or fully refrigerated thus requiring less strength in the cargo tanks. This reduces weight and cost. Insulation and reliquification plant is required. Partly refrigerated systems have a maximum pressure of about 8 bar and a temperature of about -10^oC. Fully refrigerated have a maximum pressure of about 8 bar but the temperature may be down to -45^oC thus increasing the range of petroleum gas cargoes that may be carried. These systems employ cylindrical or spherical tanks which must be self supporting.

Most shipments of LPG are carried at atmospheric pressure at theire respective boiling point. Some typical examples are ethylene -103^oC, propane -42^oC, ammonia -33^oC and butane 0^oC to- 5^oC

Lloyds register require that in cases other than for pressurised tanks, for carriage of cargoes below 10 ^oC the hold spaces should be segregated from the sea by a double bottom. For below 50^oC the ship should also have longitudinal bulkheads forming the tank sides.

Most gas tanks incorporate a method of detecting leakage. When the primary barrier is breached the secondary barrier should capable of confining the leakage for a minimum of 15 days.

In addition, especially for LNG carriers, the inert gas contained in the barrier space is sampled and temperature probes fitted. Regular 'cold spot' inspections are carried out on the secondary barrier.

Before designing a gas tank certain criteria set down in the IMO code for ships carrying bulk gas must be met. These, by giving a set of figures determining a damage to the ship, ensure the ships survivability in a collision, grounding etc. The position of the tanks, determined by the type of cargo to be carried, are laid down to prevent the escape of cargo under similar conditions.

For systems other than fully pressurised a method of dealing with 'boil off' must be fitted. For LPG carriers this takes the form of an on board

Fully pressurised

The tanks are internally stiffened and constructed of ordinary grade steels as the cargo is carried at atmospheric temperatures.

Alternative tank support arrangements

Tanks are in the form of pressure vessels, cylindrical or spherical.

Maximum pressure is about 18 bar and no reliquification plant is provided.

Apart from certain areas around the supports insulation is not usually fitted. Relief v/v's are required to safe guard against pressure build up due to boil off. A compressor is provided to keep the tank system pressurised.

Tanks are classed as self supporting, because of the loss of space the system is not popular and is usually applied to smaller ships

Semi-pressurised, partly refrigerated

These reduce the cost and weight; tanks are insulated and reliquifaction plant is fitted, max pressure is 8 bar and minimum tempo about -5^oC. Tank arrangement is similar to the fully pressurised and so there is still the loss of space.

Semi-pressurised, fully refrigerated

Pressure about 8 bar, and temperatures down to -45^oC. Tanks well insulated and reliquification plant essential. Tank pressurised but it is possible to carry a range to cargoes at different pressures and temperatures.

Fully refrigerated

Cargoes are carried at atmospheric pressure but at a temperature below the atmospheric boiling point. Very suitable for LNG, but can also be used for LPG and ammonia ( LNG carriers do not generally have a reliquification plant but LPG carriers may )

Prismatic tanks or membrane wall systems may be used. Prismatic tanks are self supporting but they must be tied to the main hull structure.

Prismatic tank

Membrane tanks

Membrane tanks are rectangular and rely on the main hull of the ship for strength.

The primary barrier may be corrugated in order to impart additional strength and to account for movement due to change of temperature. Systems vary but the arrangement shown is typical.

Primary barrier material must have the ability to maintain its integrity at the low temperatures. 36% Nickel steel(invar), stainless steel and aluminium are satisfactory at normal LNG temperatures.

Secondary barriers may be fitted depending upon the arrangements but it is not normally required as the ships hull may be used as the secondary barrier if the temperature of the barrier is higher than - 50 ^oC and construction is of arctic D steel or equivalent.

An independent secondary barrier of nickel steel, aluminium or plywood may be used provided it will perform a secondary function correctly.

Insulation materials may be Balsa, mineral wool, glass wool, polyurethane or pearlite. It is possible to construct a primary barrier of polyurethane's as this will contain and insulate the cargo.

Usually, secondary barriers are of low temperature steel or aluminium, neither of which becomes brittle at low temperatures.

Gas detection equipment needs to be fitted in the inner barrier and void spaces in cargo pump rooms and in control rooms.

The type of equipment depends upon the cargo being carried and the type of space involved measurement of inflammable gas vapours and toxic vapours as well as oxygen content should be monitored.

Visual and available warnings must be given when high levels are approached. Toxic gasses must be measured every four hours except when personnel are in the spaces when the interval is 30 mins.

Membranes are very thin (less than 2mm) and are therefore susceptible to damage, tanks are never partially loaded.

Boil off

With LNG reliquifaction is not economically viable. It is a requirement by class that a suitable method be installed for the handling of this gas

One common method is to utilise the gas as fuel for the propulsion plant. A suitable method of disposing with excess energy should be fitted. Typically for a steam powered vessel this would take the form of a steam dumping arrangement.

Alternately , the gas may be vented although port restrictions mean it may not always be possible.

For LPG boil off can be reliquified or a suitable venting system clear of the ship may be used. Burning in the main engine can be very problematic, not least with the ensuring safe gas tightness on the engine. Combustion problems and the probable production of noxious gasses are also areas of concern.

Safety

During transit gas will boil off and venting may be employed to release pressure but methane is a green house gas and pollution regulations may restrict such venting. Any venting of gas must be vertical and away from the ship.

Spaces between the tank barriers or between the barrier and the ships side must be constantly inerted or there must be sufficient inert gas available to fill spaces. Tanks must be fitted with indicators for level, pressure and temperature. There must also be a high level alarm with visual and audible warning together with automatic flow cut off. Pressure alarms and gas monitoring points for detection equipment must also be provided in inter barrier spaces. Detection equipment is also required in void spaces, cargo pump rooms and control rooms. Measurements must be taken of flammable vapours, toxic vapours and oxygen content. For fire protection, the fire pump must be capable of supplying at least two jets or sprays which can reach all parts of the deck over the cargo tanks fixed dry chemical systems may also be required.

Automatic tank piecing (lng)

Should a leak be detected from the tank into the interbarrier space by either temperature probes or gas detectors during the loaded voyage the inter barrier space will fill to the level of the liquid in the tank. On discharge it is possible that the level in the tank will fall more rapidly than the liquid can drain from the inter barrier. The primary barrier, which has little mechanical strength will thus collapse.

To prevent this a nitrogen powered punch assembly is fitted to a low point in the tank, before start of discharge this punch may be operated to allow proper drainage. Once the cargo has been discharged both the original leak and the hole caused by the punch are repaired.

Jettison the cargo

Should a problem occur of such severity that it is required to jettison the cargo then a special nozzle arrangement is fitted to the manifold and the main cargo pumps started. The liquid is ejected down wind of the vessel forming a large gaseous ball. By carefull design and flow considerations the flammable region is kept to a minimum.

The author has witnessed videos of tests carried out on this system and can vouch for its effectiveness.

LNG vessel propulsion systems.

Although the amount of boil off from a modern LNG carrier represents a small percentage of the cargo it still is significant in terms of cost.

The traditional method of dealing with this boil off is to specify steam propulsion for the vessel and utilise the boil off as fuel in the boiler. The disadvantage of this is that initial cost is high and efficiency is low in comparison to reciprocating engines. The advantage is the proven design, low maintenance and high reliability

The growth in carrier size up to and above 200000m³ has led to twin screw designs. This has favoured the use of slow speed and duel fuel burning engine designs There are alternatives available to this some of which are
Two stroke diesel electric propulsion plant- the boil off is burnt in a boiler which powers a turbo-alternator which supplies electricity for propulsion.- reached design stage but the proven track record of the steam turbine as held it at bay.
Slow speed engine and reliquificationconcerns over the initial cost, unproven reliability in the marine environment and high electrical power consumption has meant this is only a recent introduction
Duel burning diesel engines- question mark over reliability and effect on the near perfect safety record of the worlds LNG fleet. In this design gas is introduced either at low presure during the air suction stroke into the air inlet ducting. Alternately the gas may be injected at high pressure directly into the cylinder. In both designs a pilot fuel oil injector is used. The engine retains the ability to run on fuel oil only. Low NOx and CO₂ emissions at least equalt to steam plants are claimed
Gas Turbine
- in a turbolectric set up.