Chemical & Process Technology: How Boil-Off-Gas (BOG) is Generated

Monday, August 23, 2010

How Boil-Off-Gas (BOG) is Generated

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) contains mainly Propane (C3) and Butane (i-C4 & n-C4), Liquid Ethylene (C2=) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) contains mainly Methane will evaporate at ambient condition e.g. 20 degC @ 101.325 kPag.

LPG, Liquid Ethylene and LNG can be stored in refrigerated vessel at its bubble point and atmospheric pressure. Their bubble point can be as low as -40, -104 and -162 degC are commonly known as cryogenic temperature and fluid as cryogenic fluid.

Heat leaks into the cryogenic fluid will results vaporization and lead to Boil-Off-Gas (BOG) generation. Other than heat leak, there are other scenarios can lead to BOG generation :

vaporized vapor due to barometric pressure decrease
vaporized vapor due to ambient temperature increase
cryogenic fluid rundown piping
cryogenic fluid circulation / loading line
ship / truck loading arm
cryogenic fluid storage tank
cryogenic fluid rundown pump
cryogenic fluid in-tank pump
flashed non-condensable gasses
negative Joule-Thompson effect
"hot" rundown LNG into "cold" LNG
cooling of loading arm
cooling of ship / truck

Vaporized vapor due to barometric pressure decrease & ambient temperature increase

Environment pressure and temperature change affects BOG generation. Maximum BOG generation during summer, noon and high elevation (with low barometric pressure). On the other hand, minimum BOG generation during winter, mid-night and near sea side (high barometric pressure).

Heat leaks into Cryogenic fluid rundown piping, circulation / loading line, ship / truck loading arm & storage tank

Ambient heat leaks cryogenic fluid will be limited by insulation layer. Heat leaks into subjects to insulation thickness, thermal conductivity, installation quality, etc. Higher insulation thickness, lower thermal conductivity, high installation quality and etc maintain good heat insulation and reduce BOG generation.

Heat generated by rundown pump & in-tank pumpand leaks into Cryogenic fluid

Pumps is required for transferring cryogenic liquid from production plant to storage tank and from storage tank to ship/truck. Pump will absorb power to move cryogenic fluid and any deficiency will generate heat and it will transfer into cryogenic fluid. Pump heat leaks subject to pump capacity, develop head and efficiency. Larger pump, higher head and lower efficiency lead to excess heat generation and leaks into cryogenic fluid.

Flashing of non-condensable gasses

Present of inert / non-condensable gasses such as nitrogen, carbon monoxide in cryogenic fluid may flash in the storage tank.

Negative Joule-Thompson effect

Another phenomenon is negative Joule Thompson (negative JT) where pressure decrease in rundown line lead to higher temperature. Typical gas is Hydrogen.

"Hot" rundown into "cold" cryogenic fluid
Hot cryogenic fluid from one train with hotter temperature which carries heat and rundown into cryogenic tank with colder temperature can results vaporization.

Cooling of loading arm & tank in ship / truck

Loading arm is heated to ambient temperature when it is unrest for long time. Cryogenic tank in ship / truck is heated by ambient when it is returned with empty tank. All loading arm and tank in ship/truck will needs cooling prior to storage. Large amount of BOG is generated during cooling time.

Coming topic will discuss quick way to estimate BOG rate.