The World of Energy

Chapter 30 LNG Technology - Processes

30.8. LNG Plant Cooling Media

Ch. 30 - 112
 Cooling Media in LNG Plant Design
Sea Water
High heat capacity of the
cooling medium, efficient
heat sink
Popular cooling medium for
the early Base Load LNG
Losing popularity due to
unfavourable environmental
impact and sea water
exchanger reliability
problems
Algeria (Camel, Arzew,
Skikda), Lybia, Kenai, Das
Island, Brunei, Badak
Sea Water/Air Cooled
Hybrid
Sea water for cold section
(liquefaction) and air cooled
for hot section (gas treating)
Arun, MLNG-1/2, QatarGas,
Nigeria
Sea Water/Fresh Water
Hybrid
Fresh cooling water closed
cicuit as the primary process
cooling media, cooled by
once thru sea water sysem
Maintain system efficiency
but eliminate sea water
exchanger reliability
problems
RasGas LNG
All Air Cooled Plant
Initiated by Australia NWS
Plant for environmental and
reliability consideration
MLNG-3, Trinidad, Oman
Becoming the trend for
future LNG Plant design
Ch. 30 - 113
Sea Water System Design Consideration

Carefull consideration in sea water corrosion impact

Sea water exchanger tubes material (90/10 Cu-Ni is
typical). In some cases may require expensive Titanium
exchanger
Corrossion prevention measures (cathodic protection
system)
Sea water mains protective internal coating/lining
Sea water exchanger type must allow easy
maintenance, tube cleaning or retubing
Proper and reliable chlorination system design is
important to avoid marine lifes growth in the system
Environmental impact counter measures:
Returned sea water temperature
Residual chlorine content in returned sea water

Ch. 30 - 114
Air Cooling System Design Consideration

Accurate prediction of basic thermal design data is

critical to an Air Cooled LNG Plant
Ambient air temperature
Prevailing wind direction and speed

Avoid hot air recirculation phenomenon

Plot plan
Equipment lay-out
Air cooler bay elevation
Gas Turbine exhaust elevation

Ch. 30 - 115
Air Cooled Exchanger Design & Component

Ch. 30 - 116
Air Cooler Header & Tube Fin Design

Ch. 30 - 117
 LNG Train Size & Cooling Media Trend
5.0
Million Ton/year/train
LNG Train Capacity
4.0

3.0 Air Cooled

2.0
Sea
Water
1.0

Year Built
1964 1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004
Ch. 30 - 118