Expansion Joints for LNG/LPG carriers and terminals

Introduction

LNG stands for Liquefied Natural Gas. LNG is a natural gas converted to liquid form through liquefaction. During this process, natural gas is cooled at low temperatures until it turns into a liquid, and the volume of gas is reduced by approximately 600 times.

LPG are liquefied petroleum gases such as propane, butane and their mixtures. LPG is comprised of 95% methane, and other components include nitrogen, ethane, carbon dioxide and propane. It is non-toxic and non-corrosive, resulting in less pollution.

LPG and LNG are mainly used as fossil fuels for heat generation, such as heating, cooking, scorching, soldering and tinning. LPG is also popular as a propellant and refrigerant. Cars with gasoline engines can be fuelled with LPG at filling stations.

The gas stream is typically separated into the Liquefied Petroleum fractions (butane and propane), which can be stored in liquid form at relatively low pressure, and the lighter ethane and methane fractions. These lighter fractions of methane and ethane are then liquefied to make up the bulk of LNG that is shipped.

The LNG and LPG supply chain consists of several interlinked and independently operated parts: exploration and production, liquefaction, shipping, regasification, storage and distribution.

Natural gas is a fuel and a combustible substance. To ensure safe and reliable operation, special measures are taken in the design, construction and operation of Expansion Joints used in LNG facilities and carriers.

In piping where thermal expansion and contraction are expected to occur, each line should be designed considering the installation of adequate Expansion Joints.

MACOGA provides high tech Expansion Joints for the LNG/LPG:

Production facilities
LNG/LPG Carriers
Export and Receiving terminals
Jetties and marine facilities

Jetties and marine facilities

A Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal is a facility for handling the import and/or export of LNG.

These terminals include equipment for loading and unloading of LNG to/from transoceanic tankers, for its transfer through the site, liquefaction, regasification, processing, storage, pumping, etc. of LNG.

An important part of LNG facilities are jetties and piers with articulated loading/unloading arms and piping for transferring LNG between ship and shore. Depending on many factors, the length of the jetty may vary from just tens of meters to several kilometers and therefore, since the LNG is kept at about -162 ° C to maintain it in a liquid state, the use of Expansion Joints to absorb the expansion/compression of pipelines generated by the extreme thermal changes is necessary.