LNG RECONDENSER

PREPARED BY:
ADITI JAIN
04116101411
USCT 3RD YEAR

CONTENTS

Overview
LNG Terminal Flow Diagram
Process Description
Recondenser Design
Detailed Description of the Figure
Control Systems To Bog Recondensation Process

OVERVIEW
Owing to the physical nature of NG, the most economical way for
transportation over long distances is by liquefaction of the gas and shipment
on special LNG tankers. Through the liquefaction process, NG is cooled to
about 160C at atmosphere pressure. Due to the inflow of heat transfer
from the surroundings to cryogenic LNG, it is unavoidably vaporized
generating BOG (Boil off Gas) in storage tanks and liquid-filled pipe lines.
In addition, LNG ship unloading operation also contributes to BOG
generation. Therefore, how to recover BOG is an essential issue in LNG
receiving terminals. BOG recondensation system is widely used to liquefy
and recover BOG due to its 3060% higher energy-utilization efficiency
than that of compressing BOG directly to distribution pipeline.

LNG Terminal Process Flow Diagram

PROCESS DESCRIPTION

Recondenser are used in LNG receiving terminals to recondense BOG with

sub cooled LNG in order to reduce the capital and operating cost associated
with the pressurization of the BOG to pipeline pressure level. Conventional
designs are a predominantly packed bed column. the column houses an
inner cylinder with packing in which BOG is contacted with sub cooled
LNG in order to recondense the BOG. The column is normally designed
such that the recondenser provides sufficient net positive suction head for
the pumps. The BOG flow to the LNG recondenser is divided between the
packed section and the annular space. The flow to annular space is
controlled to maintain the pressure. The liquid level in the vessel is
controlled by varying the inlet LNG flow rate. The packed bed liquid level
will vary with the feed BOG/LNG ratio

RECONDENSER DESIGN

Sketch of the process control loops of the BOG re-condenser for pressure, level and operational bypass

DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE
FIGURE

Re-condenser design shown in Figure is based on a fixed pressure recondenser type and comprises a vessel feeded by three Liquefied Natural
Gas lines, in which the vessel comprises two separated zones with no
interference between them:

A recondensing packing contact zone, located in a top section of the vessel,

which houses a packing bed, in which Boil Off Gas, coming from a Boil Off
Gas compressors discharge, is in contact with Liquefied Natural Gas, taken
from the discharge of LP pumps, for recondensation

a lower accumulation zone, located in a lower section of the vessel, which

serves as a liquid hold-up drum for the HP Liquefied Natural Gas pumps

CONTROL SYSTEM TO BOG

RECONDENSATION
PROCESS

LIQUID LEVEL CONTROL

LR is kept at 60% in normal operation. Once LR exceeds 60%, liquid level
controller will send out signal to open makeup gas control valve thereby
high-pressure makeup gas into BOG recondenser to lower the liquid level.
This could recover condensing function of the recondenser and prevent
LNG from entering NG system. If the liquid level continues rising and
reaching the highest level limit of 90%, the interlocked level controller will
automatically give a signal to shut down control valve which regulates
condensing LNG flow, and stop BOG compressor. When the upstream LNG
is insufficient and downstream LNG demand is great, it may lead LR to
drop below 60%, liquid level controller could starts override control to
reduce BOG flow rate entering BOG recondenser. When override control is
inefficient to recover LR, the interlocked level controller could be activated
to trip makeup gas valve BOG compressor and high pressure pumps

PRESSURE CONTROL

The BOG recondenser operates in a fixed pressure mode. The operator

selects the desired operating pressure of the BOG recondenser between 4 to
8 barg. The pressure in the BOG recondenser is controlled via flow
controller. The flow controller manipulates LNG quench valve which
supplies LNG to the packing bed section of the recondenser, the packing
bed consisting either is random packing or a structured packing. The
pressure in the recondenser can be as low as 4 barg during periods of high
send out flow and as high as 8 barg during periods of minimum send out
rate.

FEED FORWARD RECONDENSER PRESSURE CONTROL

The main function of the flow controller controlling the flow rate of sub
cooled LNG to the top is to keep the BOG recondenser at a fixed pressure
and to operate in a stable operating region. The set point of the flow
controller is derived from a function of a specific factor and the measured
mass BOG flow that enters into the recondenser. This specific factor is the
result from the function of the desired operator pressure set point, the
measured pressure in the vessel and a temperature correction for both LNG
and BOG. Once the operator introduces the pressure set point, depending on
the BOG flow, the LNG flow is calculated and set to the LNG flow
controller as set point. The pressure set point can be adjusted by the
operator to achieve the desired operating pressure of the BOG recondenser

FEED-BACK RECONDENSATION PRESSURE CONTROL

The main function of the pressure controller is controlling the required
fixed pressure in the BOG recondenser. The pressure controller operates
via a cascade control loop, re-setting the set-point of the LNG flow
controller to keep the BOG re-condenser at the desired pressure.

PROTECTIVE PRESSURE CONTROL

The recondenser is provided with a padding gas from the vaporizers

send out, upstream of metering station. This padding gas allows for
maintaining the recondenser operating pressure at a minimum pressure
set point. This flow is controlled by a pressure control loop acting on a
padding gas control valve.

The recondenser is provided also with a controlled vent connection to

the BOG header. This is to prevent high pressure (higher than 8 barg) in
the recondenser and prevents the pressure safety valve to open. This
release is controlled with pressure control loop acting on a control
valve. This is achieved with the separated pressure control loop.

BYPASS CONTROL

This operating bypass is located between the BOG recondenser

isolation valves. The bottom section has been sized for an LNG
equivalent to half maximum send out. When the send out
through the LNG terminal exceeds this value the LNG will be
send via an operational bypass to the suction header of the high
pressure pumps.
If flow controller in the operational bypass receiving its set point
cascaded from the overall terminal send out point will open the
bypass valve if the send out flow rate exceeds the half maximum
send out rate. Also it is possible to use the total LNG flow rate to
recondenser to control this bypass by a function. The operator
will decide the control to be used.

FLOW CONTROL
The condensing LNG flow rate is regulated by the control valve. The
condensing LNG flow rate derives from the following equation:
QLNG = QBOG Cf X PHPs X 10
It is fixed by the ratio calculation module where:
QLNG: (m3/h) is volume flow of condensing LNG
QBOG: (Nm3/h) is standard volume flow of BOG
PHPs: (MPa) is pressure of high pressure pump suction header
Cf

: A parameter referring to LNG composition.

The value of QLNG will be transformed into the setting value of flow rate
controller BC pressure control valve, level-controlled makeup gas valve and
pressure controlled gas vent valve of the recondenser are the supporting
measures for maintaining a stable PR and LR

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