LNG · Marine
LNG Carrier
A ship with insulated cargo tanks that carries natural gas as a liquid at about −162 °C.
What it does
Membrane tanks, thin liners supported by the hull through insulation, are the dominant design; independent Type B tanks such as the Moss design are the other main option. Part of the cargo boils off on the voyage; modern carriers burn it as fuel and many can reliquefy it.
Basics
| Cargo temperature | About −162 °C (−260 °F) |
| Tank types | Membrane (dominant) or independent Type B (Moss) |
| Boil off | Burned as fuel or reliquefied |
| Volume | About 600 times smaller than the gas |
Common failures
- Tank pressure rising when boil off exceeds what is burned or reliquefied
Troubleshooting
- Symptom
- Tank pressure rising on voyage
- Likely cause
- Boil off higher than the fuel use or reliquefaction
- What to check
- Increase gas consumption or reliquefaction and watch the tank pressure limits