Air Liquide Advanced Technologies is to supply one of its Turbo-Brayton cryogenic systems, the TBF-350, to energy major
Shell. The LNG reliquefaction technology is scheduled for delivery and installation on Shell's specialised LNG bunker barge in 2016.
The LNG delivery vessel is to be based at the port of
Rotterdam and supply LNG-powered vessels operating in the Emission Control Area (ECA) of Northwest Europe.
The Turbo-Brayton TBF-350 is designed as a solution for natural gas boil-off reliquefaction. The system reliquefies LNG on board to manage boil-off gas (BOG) and also return vapour during bunkering operations. As it keeps the tanks at low pressure, the system can be used to fill any type of tank (membrane or type C).
For this project, the TBF-350 Equipment will reliquefy up to 0.5 tonnes per hour.
The Turbo-Brayton product line comprises the TBF-80, TBF-175, TBF-350 and TBF-1050. Each system is supplied as a single skid, ready-to-run package with a small footprint, mainly composed of a turbomachine, a vacuum isolated cold box with a counter current plate fin heat exchanger, and a smart control system.
According to Air Liquide Advanced Technologies, the Turbo-Brayton technology is "an innovative, reliable and efficient solution for cryogenics, designed to save energy. It guarantees a continuous, highly reliable, energy-efficient and 100% oil-free operation". It is also said to be very low maintenance, extremely compact (single skid), and can be very rapidly integrated.
The Turbo-Brayton product line is designed for all LNG vessel types and LNG-fuelled vessels - for newbuilds or as a retrofit for existing ships.
