Three Approaches to Low-Duty Turbo Compressor Efficiency Exploitation Evaluation

Abstract

This paper presents three approaches for isentropic, energy, and exergy evaluations of a low-duty liquid natural gas (LNG) vapor turbo compressor during exploitation on a conventional LNG carrier. The evaluation was conducted on the measured performance parameters under 22 various turbo compressor operating regimes. The turbo compressor performance was evaluated in the temperature span from −69 to −105 °C and during changes in the rpm of the main propulsion turbine and, consequently, the main boiler load. The results show that the highest measured turbo compressor isentropic efficiency is in agreement with the manufacturer specifications, equaling 75.23% at a main propulsion turbine rpm of 53.5. At the highest measured loads and rpm, the turbo compressor energy and exergy efficiencies reach the highest values of 57.81% and 28.51%, respectively. In each observed operating regime, the influence of the ambient temperature change on the turbo compressor exergy efficiency was investigated. At the lowest and the highest measured loads, turbo compressor energy and exergy flow streams are presented in a Sankey diagram. Techniques for cargo temperature maintenance during the ship voyage are presented, as the results show that low suction gas temperatures influence turbo compressor efficiency.

Analysis and Optimization of Atmospheric Drain Tank of Lng Carrier Steam Power Plant

“…BOG heaters are used for heating and vaporizing liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is taken from the cargo tank when there is not enough methane vapor from the tank. The amount of steam for the BOG heaters is controlled by the cargo and boiler management system which controls the cargo tank pressure, as described in [17].…”