65
A
s the demand for LNG continues to grow worldwide,
so does the demand for transfer plumbing and
storage systems. These systems are specialised
products, which are designed, manufactured and installed
by only a few highly skilled providers. A high skill level is
essential in order to ensure the product’s thermal efficiency
and flow capability, as well as its safety.
The thermal efficiency is directly proportional to product
cost, with non-insulated pipe being the lowest initial cost.
When selecting either foam insulation, aerogels or vacuum
insulation, the decision is dictated by the pipe duty cycle,
which is based upon initial cost vs long-term cost and
determined by liquid lost to heat leak.
From a safety perspective, LNG combines the issues of
extreme cold with a flammable fluid under pressure.
Together, these issues require a high level of expertise in heat
transfer and pressure piping configurations from the pipe
system designers, manufacturers and installers, to ensure low
risk operation.
Safety first
The issue of safety has been well recognised for many
years. A notorious LNG event was the 1944 explosion of
an LNG above ground storage tank in Cleveland, Ohio,
US, which destroyed nearly 80 homes.
1
In response to the
flammable fluid safety issues, a number of organisations set
about creating guidelines for the design, manufacture and
installation of LNG pipe and storage systems. In 1984, the
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) added
cryogenic piping to its B31.3 standard for process piping.
Philip Rendenbarger,
Technifab Products, USA,
looks at safe piping for
LNG storage and transfer.
