Delicate pressure test of LNG-tanks requires particular air quality
June 1, 2018
Safe and environmentally friendly oil-free air solution for MAN Diesel & Turbo Sverige AB in Gothenburg
In 2016 and 2017, Atlas Copco Rental Europe supported MAN Diesel and Turbo Sverige AB in Gothenburg successfully with oil-free air solutions for a pressure test of several LNG tanks. With only a limited time frame and high air quality requirements, even the slightest detail was crucial to finish the project successfully. Late 2016 Atlas Copco Rental Finland received a first request from MAN DIESEL & TURBO Sverige AB regarding a pressure test of two LNG tanks in a ship at a Finish Ship Yard. Atlas Copco Rental successfully installed a solution with a PTS1600 and CD47 dryer for this 10 bar pressure test of two 300m³ tanks. A year later, in September 2017, Atlas Copco Rental received a new request for final pressure tests of one + five LNG tanks (150 & 175m³ units) at the production site in Gothenburg, Sweden. One test had to be scheduled each six weeks. This time, the test procedure was slightly different to the test of 2016 in Finland as the new tanks needed to be tested at a final pressure of 15 bar, starting at 0,5 bar moving to the final pressure in given steps.
Precise air quality requirements
To carry out the test Atlas Copco Rental delivered a PNS1250 100% oil-free portable diesel driven high-pressure compressor together with a CD47 adsorption dryer which can take up to 16bar(e) pressure. It sounds very simple. Nevertheless, there were some crucial aspects to take into account:
- Time: the pressure test must be completed as fast as possible, in around 3 hours.
- Air quality: air must be 100% oil free, because the inner vessel and pipes of the LNG tanks are washed & cleaned.
- Dry Air: the 100% oil free air must be as dry as possible (-40⁰C dew point or lower) to dry out any residual water being caught in the tank assembly.
After the first test, some parameters were optimized to smoothen the process and fully satisfy the customers’ needs.
“ Atlas Copco Rental supported our business to the fullest. We are very satisfied with the solution: all equipment was delivered on time and installed by experts with great product knowledge. Atlas Copco Rental is a cooperative partner that you can trust and rely on! ”
For more information please contact:
- Inge Craninckx, Marketing Manager inge.craninckx@be.atlascopco.com Phone: +32 476 23 41 13
Atlas Copco is a world-leading provider of sustainable productivity solutions. The Group serves customers with innovative compressors, vacuum solutions and air treatment systems, construction and mining equipment, power tools and assembly systems. Atlas Copco develops products and services focused on productivity, energy efficiency, safety and ergonomics. The company was founded in 1873, is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has a global reach spanning more than 180 countries. In 2017, Atlas Copco had revenues of BSEK 116 (BEUR 12) and about 47 000 employees. Learn more at www.atlascopcogroup.com. Specialty Rental is a division within Atlas Copco’s Power Technique business area. It serves customers in all industry segments around the world with temporary air, power, flow, steam and nitrogen rental solutions. The specialty rental services are offered under several brands. The divisional headquarters is located in Belgium.