Liquefied gas

Liquefied gas.

Liquefied natural gas is natural gas predominantly consisting of methane (CH4), artificially liquefied by cooling to minus 160 °C for easy storage or transport.

Liquefied natural gas, liquefied natural gas, composition, properties

Physical properties of liquefied natural gas

Receiving liquefied natural gas. As liquefied gas?

Storage and transportation of liquefied natural gas

Requirements of standards for liquefied natural gas

The benefits of liquefied natural gas

Similarities and differences between liquefied natural and hydrocarbon gases

Exporting countries and countries importing liquefied natural gas in 2016.

 

Liquefied natural gas, liquefied natural gas, composition:

When you say or write “liquefied gas“, then it is meant by liquefied natural gas (LNG). Liquefied natural gas is necessary to distinguish between liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the latter differs in composition, temperature and storage conditions.

In English is called LNG LNG (liquefied natural gas) and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

Liquefied natural gasnatural gasmostly consisting of methane (CH4), artificially liquefied by cooling to minus 160 °C for easy storage or transport. For future use – economic use is converted to a gaseous state in special regasification terminals (i.e., subjected to evaporation in the absence of access of air and oxygen).

Liquefied natural gas is one of the aggregate States of natural gas. LNG is a liquid without color, taste and smell. The density of LNG is less than 2 times the density of water.

In contact with unprotected parts of the human body LNG evaporates and causes frostbite on the skin.

Liquefied natural gas consists of methane CH4, the content of which is 85-99 %, the rest is 1-15 % are additional substances: ethane С2Н6, propane C3H8, butane C4H10 nitrogen N2., as well as unwanted impurities: oxygen O2, hydrogen sulfide НЅ2, sulfur mercaptan CH3SH and other.

In the processing of natural gas purified from hydrogen sulfide, mercaptan , sulfur, water vapor, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, etc., because all of the unwanted impurities in the liquefied natural gas are not contained or are contained in very low concentrations.

In the liquid state LNG is not flammable, not toxic, not aggressive. Itself is not flammable and does not explode. In the open space at a temperature above the boiling point of LNG is converted to its inherent gaseous state and mixed with air. The evaporation can be ignited by contact with fire. Explosive concentration of the mixture recovered in gaseous state natural gas with air ranged from 4.4 to 17 % of the volume. If the concentration of gas is less than the 4.4 % volume, amount of gas will be enough to start the combustion process, and if more than 17% volume, it will not be enough oxygen for the combustion process. The combustion fumes are formed dioxide of carbon and water vapour.

Because LNG is one of the aggregate States, conventional natural gas, the first has the same chemical and physical properties as the latter, with some exceptions.

Liquefied natural combustible gas is used as motor fuel for engines of internal combustion as well as fuel for power plants, industrial and municipal purposes.

In the Russian Federation GOST R 56021-2014 installed three brands of liquefied natural gas:

– grade A – natural liquefied combustible gas of high purity that has a constant heat of combustion used as fuel for engines of internal combustion and power plants with narrow limits of regulation;
– grade B – fuels and liquefied natural gas used as fuel for engines of internal combustion;
– mark – fuels and liquefied natural gas used as fuel for power plants.

In that case, if the mass concentration of total sulfur in LNG is not more than 0,010 g/m3, the designation of mark LNG added the index “0”.

Physical properties of liquefied natural gas:

Parameter name: Value:
Density, kg/m3 (depending on composition, the content of higher alkanes, temperature and pressure)* 410-528
Boiling point, °C (depending on composition, the content of higher alkanes)** from -158 to -163
Critical temperature, °C *** -82,09

* For comparison: the methane density is 415 kg/m3 at boiling point (-164,6 °C) and normal atmospheric pressure (1 ATM.). With increasing pressure and decreasing temperature the density of LNG is growing, the impurities of higher alkanes also increase the density of LNG.

** For comparison, the boiling point of methane is -161,58 °C.

*** The critical temperature is the temperature above which liquefaction is impossible under any pressure. For methane the critical temperature is -82,5 °C.

Receiving liquefied natural gas. As liquefied gas:

Liquefied natural gas obtained from natural gas by multiple (in degrees) compression of gas under pressure and subsequent cooling. At each compression stage the natural gas is compressed by 5-12 times, then cooled. After the last compression stage the gas is cooled and becomes liquid.

Gas liquefaction is performed on special equipment, or in mobile version (mobile plant for liquefied natural gas) or LNG plant. The energy consumption for the liquefaction is 8-10 % of the amount contained in the liquefied gas.

Due to the liquefaction of natural gas can be reduced in volume 618 times. So it is easier and more economically transported for long distances in the absence of the transport pipeline infrastructure.

One ton of liquefied natural gas is approximately equal to 1.38 thousand m3 of natural gas (at standard conditions 20 °C, 1 ATM.).

Or 1 liter liquefied natural gas is approximately equal to 1.38 m3 of natural gas (at standard conditions 20 °C, 1 ATM.).

Storage and transportation of liquefied natural gas:

After liquefaction, the LNG is pumped into special tanks for storage, which is a special kriosistemy, arranged on the principle of the Dewar-flask.

LNG is transported in specialized marine vessels known as LNG carriers equipped with kriosistemy, as well as on special vehicles and special rail tank cars.

During storage and transportation must comply with the storage temperature of the liquefied natural gas it should not be more than the critical temperature -82,09 OS. Otherwise, all the LNG will pass in a gaseous condition even at any pressure. Usually natural gas is stored at a temperature of -163 °C.

Before delivery to the end user and use it for other purposes LNG regasified on special equipment in the absence of access of air and oxygen. The final consumer gas is fed in the gaseous state.

Requirements of standards for liquefied natural gas:

Quality requirements established by GOST R 56021-2014 “combustible natural Gas LPG. Fuel for engines of internal combustion and power plants. Technical conditions”. They are shown in the table below:

Name of the parameter: Value for brands:
And B In
Component composition, mole fraction, % Definition of necessary
The value of the Wobbe index number (higher) under standard conditions, MJ/m3* From up to 47.2 to 49.2 Not regulated From 41,2 to 54.5
The lower heat of combustion at standard conditions, MJ/m3* Not regulated From the 31.8 to 36.8 Not less than 31,8
Mole fraction of methane, %, not less 99,0 80,0 75,0
The molar fraction of nitrogen, %, not more Not regulated 5,0 5,0
Mole fraction carbon dioxide, %, not more 0,005 0,015 0,030
The molar fraction of oxygen, %, not more 0,020
Mass concentration of hydrogen sulfide, g/m3, not more 0,020
The mass concentration of mercaptan sulphur, g/m3, no more** 0,036
The calculated octane number (by motor method), not less Not regulated 105 Not regulated

* When calculating the indicators take 1 cal is equal to 4,1868 J.
** At the request of the consumer of LNG can be supplied with the mass concentration of total sulfur not more than 0,010 g/m.

*** Regasification LNG supply for domestic purpose with an odor intensity of at least three points when volume concentration of 1% in the air.

The benefits of liquefied natural gas:

– liquefied natural gas occupies a volume approximately 600 times smaller than in the normal state. Thereby, it is easier, more convenient and cheaper to store and transport,

– liquefied natural gas, non – toxic, non-explosive liquid,

– large volumes of LNG can be stored in special land-based tanks at atmospheric pressure,

– the ability to deliver gas to consumers in the farthest corners of the planet,

– enables gasification of objects that have no access to transportation pipeline infrastructure,

– the ability to accumulate and to create a reserve for future LNG consumption,

– no need for construction of expensive pipeline transport systems.

Similarities and differences between liquefied natural and petroleum gases:

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and LNG (liquefied natural gas) are similar to each other in the areas of application, some properties, etc.

However, between them there are differences, which are listed in the table below:

Parameter name: LPG LNG
Composition Main substances: propane and butane, the content of at least 95%
Additional substances: pentane, methane, ethane, ethylene, propylene, butylene.
Base material: methane content of 85-99%
Additional substances: ethane, propane, butane, nitrogen.
Critical temperature °C +96,84 (propane) -82,09
Storage method aboveground or underground tanks kriosistemy, which should always be maintained low temperature of -163 °C

The key and most important difference is the conditions and temperature of storage, as well as the critical temperature. LPG can be stored at ambient temperature under pressure. Storage conditions of LNG are fundamentally different and require special conditions.

Exporting countries and countries importing liquefied natural gas in 2016.

The table below provides data about the countries-exporters of liquefied natural gas in 2016.

No. PPT The name of the exporting country billion m3
1 Qatar 104,4
2 Australia 56,8
3 Malaysia 32,1
4 Nigeria 23,7
5 Indonesia 21,2
6 Algeria 15,9
7 Trinidad and Tobago 14,3
8 Russia 14,0
9 Oman 10,6
10 Papua New Guinea 10,4
11 Brunei 8,3
12 UAE 7,4
13 Norway 6,3
14 Peru 5,5
15 USA 4,4
16 Equatorial Guinea 4,3
17 Rest of Europe* 4,2
18 Angola 0,8
19 Egypt 0,7
20 Brazil 0,6
21 Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region* 0,5

* Including re-exports.

** The data contained in the Statistical Review of World Energy 2017 (English). Internet resource https://nangs.org/analytics/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2017-edition-pdf-xlsx-pptx.

The table below provides data about the countries-importers of liquefied natural gas in 2016:

No. PPT The name of the importing country billion m3
1 Japan 108,5
2 South Korea 43,9
3 China 34,3
4 India 22,5
5 Taiwan 19,5
6 Countries In The Middle East 14,2
7 Spain 13,2
8 United Kingdom (UK) 10,5
9 Africa 10,2
10 France 9,7
11 Turkey 7,7
12 Rest of Europe and Eurasia 6,9
13 Mexico 5,9
14 Italy 5,7
15 Argentina 5,2
16 Chile 4,3
17 Thailand 4,2
18 Pakistan 4,0
19 Brazil 3,0
20 Singapore 3,0
21 Other countries in Central and South America 3,0
22 Belgium 2,8
23 USA 2,5
24 Malaysia 1,6
25 Canada 0,3
26 Other countries in the Asia-Pacific region 0,1

* Data are presented for Statistical Review of World Energy 2017 (English). Internet resource https://nangs.org/analytics/bp-statistical-review-of-world-energy-2017-edition-pdf-xlsx-pptx.

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