Sealing expertise for LNG applications

LNG, securing energy supplies for a low-carbon future

There is no question that the transition to cleaner energy sources must succeed if we are to counteract the greenhouse effect. However, until the transformation of our global energy systems is complete, natural gas is the most important fossil fuel due to its comparatively low greenhouse gas emissions. Especially in the form of LNG, natural gas plays a crucial role in securing energy supplies and balancing out fluctuations in production. It is an important process material for industry and an alternative fuel for shipping and heavy-duty vehicles.

LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to -162 °C [-260 °F] and liquefied. This process reduces its volume by a factor of 600 and increases it energy density accordingly. This means it can be stored efficiently and transported over long distances by ship, truck or rail to anywhere in the world. As a result, LNG opens up new sources of supply and helps diversify the energy mix. In turn, countries that export LNG benefit from potential economic growth and gain in economic importance.

LNG – a climate-friendly alternative to fossil fuels

The carbon footprint of LNG depends heavily on the type of production, technical conditions and transportation distances. In principle, the use of LNG is significantly cleaner and therefore less harmful to the climate than the use of lignite, hard coal and crude oil. With the use of new and more efficient technologies, further reductions in emissions are possible in the future. The overall goal is to make LNG projects as low emission as possible.

1. Feed gas: Natural gas from underground wells, biomethane from biogas plants or green gas from power-to-gas plants (renewable energy).
2. Gas treatment: cleaning and separation of liquids and unwanted components.
3. Liqufaction of the gas by cooling to -162 °C [-260 °F].
4. Storage of LNG in cryogenic tanks and loading onto LNG carriers for sea transport to destination.
5. Storage in cryogenic tanks and/or transport to brakebulk terminals and loading onto tankers, bunkers or rail tank cars for delivery to bunkering and fueling stations (truck and ship fuel) and industry.
6. Regasification: heating the LNG and converting it back to natural gas.  
7. Injection into the natural gas grid to provide electricity and heat to homes, power plants, commerce and industry. 

EagleBurgmann:
Expert sealing support through the entire LNG value chain

Ever since natural gas (and thus LNG) heralded the third energy transition after coal and oil more than 50 years ago, EagleBurgmann has also been shaping the market for gas-lubricated mechanical seals. As one of the leading system suppliers of superior sealing technology, we now serve original equipment manufacturers, EPC companies and plant operators around the world.

In the production, transportation and use of LNG, it is particularly important to avoid incidents and environmental damage caused by gas spills.

Our proven solutions, unique products and comprehensive services help energy and industrial customers minimize operating costs, maximize uptime and ensure the safety of pumps, compressors and specialty equipment. We also provide consulting, engineering and valuable technical support.

An international team of experienced engineers with special project expertise is at your disposal for projects involving the rapid development and expansion of the global LNG infrastructure. Here you find out why it pays to involve EagleBurgmann as a qualified sealing partner right from the start.

LNG production at the export terminal

Several steps are required to produce LNG from natural gas. But not all natural gas is the same. As a mixture of sub­stances, it varies in com­po­si­tion and quality de­pend­ing on its origin. The same applies to re­new­able sub­sti­tutes such as biogas, syn­thetic gas or power-to-gas.

As an integral part of an LNG production facility, centrifugal compressors are of particular importance. This is especially true in the areas of gas processing and gas liquefaction. Compressor seals from EagleBurgmann make an important contribution to the safe, efficient and clean operation of the plant.

More and more LNG production plants are also integrating CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) units into their projects to make them more sustainable. EagleBurgmann also offers proven sealing solutions for this technology, which we design perfectly to meet individual requirements. Learn more about our sealing expertise for CCUS applications here.

LNG transport by LNG carriers (LNGC)

Much of the in­ter­na­tional natural gas trade is now con­ducted in the form of liq­ue­fied natural gas (LNG). Spe­cially designed LNG carriers are utilized for long-dis­tance maritime trans­porta­tion.

Prior to loading, the tanks are cooled down to prevent thermal shock and ex­ces­sive boil-off-gas during loading. Loading is per­formed using cryo­genic loading arms or special hoses. The re­sult­ing boil-off gas is col­lected and either returned to the liq­ue­fac­tion process (reliq­ue­fac­tion) or used as fuel in the gas turbines of the liq­ue­fac­tion plants. The boil-off gas produced during ship trans­port is used to fuel the propul­sion engines.

The pumps and com­pres­sors used must be equipped with me­chan­i­cal seals spe­cially designed for the low tem­per­a­tures. EagleBurgmann has ex­ten­sive ex­pe­ri­ence in this field. We have already equipped a large number of boil-off gas man­age­ment systems with the ap­pro­pri­ate sealing tech­nol­ogy.

Regasification of LNG and provision at the import terminal

In order for liq­ue­fied natural gas to be made avail­able as natural gas at its intended des­ti­na­tion, it must be returned to its gaseous state. This is done in special re­gasi­fi­ca­tion ter­mi­nals. Heat is grad­u­ally in­tro­duced to the cryo­genic LNG through heat ex­chang­ers and va­por­iz­ers until it reaches its boiling point and va­por­izes. Com­pres­sors are employed to regulate the pressure until the gas has acquired the req­ui­site prop­er­ties for sub­se­quent uti­liza­tion.

The LNG re­gasi­fi­ca­tion process gen­er­ates re­frig­er­a­tion that can be utilized for other processes. For instance, con­ven­tional re­frig­er­a­tion systems for cold storage or shock freezing can be sup­planted, thereby reducing op­er­at­ing costs.

Con­se­quently, liq­ue­fied natural gas has been in­creas­ingly traded as a final product in recent years. For this purpose, the LNG is first broken down into smaller quan­ti­ties at break-bulk ter­mi­nals, where it is then made avail­able to industry as a process material. Ad­di­tion­ally, LNG is employed as a fuel in the trans­porta­tion sector.

We are the trusted sealing technology partner for the industrial and gas sectors, including LNG, worldwide.

EagleBurgmann is con­vinced that the path to a low-car­bon future must rest on several pillars, and that LNG plays a crucial role, both today and in the future. To ensure the success of the green trans­for­ma­tion in the years to come, we are lever­ag­ing our ex­per­tise and high stan­dards of service and ex­cel­lence to support this im­por­tant issue.

Our ex­ten­sive ex­pe­ri­ence, in­no­v­a­tive strength, and broad port­fo­lio of superior sealing tech­nolo­gies can benefit your LNG project as well.