What LNG is
Liquefied natural gas is natural gas cooled to about minus 162 degrees Celsius, where it becomes a liquid that takes up roughly 600 times less space than the gas. That makes it practical to move by road tanker or ISO container to places no pipeline reaches.
The chain from source to burner
The gas is liquefied at a plant, loaded into insulated tankers, delivered to the user, stored in a vacuum-insulated tank, and then warmed in a vaporiser until it is a gas again at the pressure the equipment needs. Each link has its own equipment and its own safety devices.
Where it makes sense
Industrial plants far from the gas grid, sites that want a cleaner fuel than diesel or furnace oil, and users who need a backup fuel when pipeline supply is interrupted are the usual cases. A steady load makes the economics work best.
What to plan for
Tank size follows daily use and the delivery schedule. Vaporiser capacity follows the peak draw. The layout needs tanker access and safe distances. Boil-off, the small amount of gas that forms as heat leaks into the tank, must be handled so that pressure stays within limits.
Safety is designed in
Cryogenic liquids and flammable gas call for relief valves, gas detection, emergency shut-off, suitable materials and trained operators. A site that is designed for these from the start is easier to approve and safer to run.
Approvals
Storage of LNG and use of pressure vessels need approval from the relevant safety authorities. Requirements depend on the capacity and location and change over time, so confirm the current rules early in the project.
If you are weighing LNG for a site without pipeline gas, send us the load and the location and we will outline the options.