For many years, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG), has been used as fuel in the automotive industry. Besides that, it is also used for heating or cooking purposes, such as for gas grills or camping stoves. However, on ships Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is used in addition to conventional fuels like HFO (Heavy fuel oil). Unlike HFO LNG is the clean alternative.
But LNG brings with it a number of technical challenges: under atmospheric pressure conditions it liquefies only at -161 °C and thus makes transport and storage more demanding. LPG on the other hand forms an interesting alternative, as it liquefies already at approximately -20 °C. That's why the entire LPG storage and pumping infrastructure is much simpler than for LNG – a factor that is a great advantage, especially on the open sea.
LEWA triplex diaphragm pumps are a robust solution for use as LPG fuel pumps in marine engines. It is particularly interesting that these pumps are universally deployable and could be used without modifications for other future alternative fuels such as methanol or ammonia.
LEWA triplex process diaphragm pumps offer many advantages as fuel pumps for LPG in marine engines:
Ships that carry heavy loads are often still powered by heavy fuel oil.
In order to feed the engine, the oil must be heated before it is injected into the cylinders. While burning in the engine, toxic soot and sulfur compounds might be formed, which are visible as gray to black plumes of smoke above the ship.
However, from 2020 it will no longer be permitted for ships running on HFO to enter the so-called ECAs (Emission Control Areas). These zones haven been introduced by many states in order to significantly reduce the emission burden on the population due to maritime traffic. In addition, the IMO (International Marine Organization) has introduced drastic limits for ships that will apply from 2020.
These limits can’t be met by ships in HFO mode, or only with considerable retrofit expenses. One effective measure to reduce toxic emissions is the use of dual-fuel engines that have been developed since the beginning of this millennium and that can alternatively burn heavy fuel oil or gases, such as LNG or LPG. Engines powered with LNG easily comply with the limits and can therefore enter the ECAs. The LNG is stored and transported on the ship in a liquid state.
Since LNG is liquid at normal pressure conditions at a temperature of -160 °C, the cooling, the refrigeration and the actual pumping process are very expensive.
This refers above all to the highly isolated tanks, pipelines and pumps, which must all be designed for cryogenic conditions. Additional complexity results from the redundant design of the systems and the high injection pressure of 300 bar, for which pipes and pumps must be dimensioned. LPG is much easier to extract and handle: It accumulates during the exploration of oil and gas and in refinery processes. It mainly consists of a mixture of propane and butane. Under normal pressure conditions it liquefies at about -20 °C. Therefore, LPG can be much easier transported, stored and cooled. In addition, due to the lower carbon content compared to heavy oil, combustion produces about 10% less CO2.
The pump technology in use can be much easier compared to LNG due to the significantly higher temperature. Elaborate cryogenic technology is not required and so robust and proven process diaphragm pumps can be used for LPG.
LEWA triplex is the most compact process pump in the world for high-pressure processes in all branches of industry. Contact us, we are happy to help!
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