Features of thermal and hydraulic calculations in designing of cryogenic pipeline for LNG

Research output: ThesisMaster's Thesis

Abstract

In the modern world, the society and production needs in energy resources are constantly growing, which shows the urgent necessity to increase production volumes, as well as improve existing ones and create new ways of transportation. Since the exported gas, as world experience shows, is most often liquefied and transported by tankers and tank containers, the possibility of introducing a cryogenic pipeline is being considered. To achieve this goal, it is important to solve several tasks simultaneously. Firstly, it is necessary to analyze a wide range of materials that can be used in cryogenic media without loss of efficiency. Secondly, thermal insulation should ensure the preservation of the liquid aggregate state of the gas, thereby eliminating phase transfer processes and creating emergencies. Further, it is very important to have an understanding of the existence of a regulatory framework for design, as it dictates to engineers the basic requirements for the safe operation of production facilities and the basic standards for design processes. Since LNG transport is a deliberately dangerous activity, carrying out a hydraulic calculation will allow assessing both the optimal diameters for transporting the specified volumes of the substance and the distances to which this gas can be transported. In addition to issues related to the design of a cryogenic pipeline for LNG transport, the implementation of a strategy to decarbonize exhaust gases into atmospheric air by adding hydrogen to the LNG gas is considered. To ensure reliable operation, its influence on combustion processes and hydrate formation, as well as critical and physicochemical parameters of the fluid, is considered. The setting of this task is due to the annual increase in tariffs that are set for enterprises that burn natural gas to provide work processes. In addition, in 2016, as a result of the Paris Agreement, countries pledged to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions to reduce global warming temperatures by 3 ° C. The production of hydrogen can be provided by two main processes: steam reforming of methane and electrolysis. The hydraulic calculation of the cryogenic pipeline was carried out in the program complex OLGA from Schlumberger, where initial pressures in the area were found, as well as the required thermal insulation thicknesses. In addition, to develop a comprehensive solution, the cost-effectiveness of this project was calculated and many conclusions were drawn to assess the feasibility of implementing the project on LNG transport in cryogenic pipelines.

Details

Translated title of the contributionAnforderungen an thermische und hydraulische Berechnungen bei der Auslegung von Tieftemperatur-Rohrleitungen fuer LNG
Original languageEnglish
QualificationMSc
Awarding Institution
Supervisors/Advisors
Award date25 Jun 2021
Publication statusPublished - 2021