1. SINTEF Energy Research
Compact LNG Heat Exchangers Seminar for NFR sitt Olje og gass program april 2003
Mona J. Mølnvik
SINTEF Energy Research

2. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers Outline of presentation
LNG in general
The project
Conclusions
Spiral Wound LNG heat Exchanger

3. LNG TRADE
Map of major gas trade movements (BP Amoco, 2002)

4. LNG LNG – Natural gas at –162oC
A base-load LNG plant usually comprises the following elements:
Inlet facilities
CO2 removal
Dehydration
Natural gas liquefaction
LNG storage
LNG loading facilities
Fractionation

5. Base Load Plants Existing Baseload LNG plants
APCI = Air Products and Chemicals Inc
C3/MR = Propane precooled/ mixed refrigerant
Cascade = Combined Propane, Ethylene, Methane refrigeration system
DMR = Dual mixed refrigerant
SMR = Single mixed refrigerant
MTPA = Million tonnes per annum

6. Base Load Plants Current LNG projects
MFCP = Mixed Fluid Cascade Process

7. The coil-wound heat exchanger
Produces by:
Air Products and Chemicals Inc. in USA
Linde in Germany
The heat exchangers are made in aluminum.
Dimensions of a the main LNG coil-wound heat exchanger is as follows:
Height m
Diameter m
Core tube diameter 1 m
Tube length m
Tube diameter mm
The Statoil/Linde MFCP is a more flexible mixed fluid process with two main coil-wound heat exchangers.

8. The Statoil - Linde Proprietary - Liquefaction Technology
MFCP - The Mixed Fluid Cascade Process
Novel LNG liquefaction technology
Concept based on well known elements
Linde fabrication of heat exchangers
Plate fin heat exchangers in the precooling
Spiral wound heat exchangers in the liquefaction and subcooling

9. Prosess Barge Hammerfest, Melkøya
2006
4,3 MTPA
CO2 reinection

10. Breakdown of Liquefaction Plant Capital Costs
(Finn et al. 1999)

11. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers Project: 156662/210
Objective: to develop the next generation heat exchanging technology for LNG plants, which compared to heat exchangers used today is:
more compact
having higher efficiency
reduced costs
Applicants: SINTEF Energy Research, Norsk Hydro and Statoil (project responsible/manager)
Total budget: 14 MNOK ( ), 50% from NFR
The project shall lead to a strong international LNG technology position for the project partners by combining:
Norsk Hydro’s experience in aluminium multiport extruded tubes and components
SINTEF’s experience in gas liquefaction and development of compact automotive refrigeration heat exchangers
Statoil’s experience in heat exchanger development and the development of the Hammerfest LNG plant
Spiral Wound LNG heat Exchanger

12. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers Necessity for new technology
The propane pre-cooled mixed refrigerant process is the most common refrigerant cycle for base-load natural gas liquefaction plants.
Both for future projects and for improvements and replacements on existing plants this configuration will be central.
Heat exchange equipment is applied in several parts of a LNG plant. Especially in the liquefaction section, large and expensive equipment is needed.
For the liquefaction section the following heat-exchange equipment is of special interest and importance:
Condensation of natural gas in the multistream main cryogenic heat exchanger, in heat exchange with evaporating mixed refrigerant
Seawater or air cooling of refrigerant in pre-cooling section and mixed refrigerant in the compressor train
Cooling of mixed refrigerant and natural gas by evaporating pre-cooling refrigerant
Spiral Wound LNG heat Exchanger

13. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers R&D-challenges
The first part of the project will be used to identify which heat exchangers in the LNG process that has the largest potential for improvements regarding size and cost reduction.
Material selection - aluminum will put restrictions on possible design due to manufacturing costs and challenges related to corrosion.
Performance of enhanced heat exchanger surfaces, heat transfer and pressure drop. Important test data are missing within the field of applications that will be addressed here.
Distribution of the two-phase flow in the heat exchanger cores and header systems, an area with major challenges, especially for compact heat exchangers, which is the focus for this project.
Spiral Wound LNG heat Exchanger

14. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers R&D-challenges ...
Heat exchanger manufacturing is a challenge since new concepts are to be developed. In this project laboratory heat exchangers will be manufactured and tested based on the experience Hydro inherits from other application areas.
Also, two PhD studies are planned; one will be focusing on experimental measurements and new heat exchanger design development. The second PhD will be focused on heat exchanger modeling software development.
The project is expected to give results that may contribute to a technological shift within the area of heat exchanger technology for LNG applications.
Spiral Wound LNG heat Exchanger

15. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers R&D-methodology
Experimental work
Skewed distribution in two-phase flows
Heat transfer and pressure drop in advanced compact heat exchangers with enhanced surfaces for improved performance.
SINTEF Energy Research and NTNU have large and advanced laboratory facilities and relevant experimental rigs and equipment.
Modeling, simulation and software development
Based on heat-transfer and pressure drop measurements on advanced heat-exchangers, correlations for use in design and simulation tools will be developed.
Development of a design tool for compact heat exchangers for LNG heat exchangers
Based on the experimental and modeling activities.
An important feature is the wide geometric flexibility in definition and simulation of new designs, both regarding tube configuration and tube and fin geometry.
Spiral Wound LNG heat Exchanger

16. Compact LNG Heat Exchangers Conclusions
Coil VV
DH = 10 – 15 mm
MPE VV
DH = 0.8 mm
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