LNG AND LPG GAS

Advertisement Liquefaction, LNG, and cryogenics is both a complex topic and an area intrinsically linked to the broader gases in refinery subject. Here, Professor Ralph Scurlock explores the history of this industry and much more.

Cryogenics is the technology of “cold”, including liquefaction, refrigeration, storage, handling and applications of cryogenic liquids and their cold, on an ever increasing scale.

Until about 50 years ago, around 1959, cryogenics was largely concerned with LHe, LH2 and the air component gases in liquid form, LOX, LIN and LArgon, at temperatures below about 100 K (or -173°C).

At that time (1959), the first successful trial shipments of liquefied natural gas, LNG, were made using the British technology of North Thames Gas Board, across the Atlantic from the Gulf of Mexico to Canvey Island in the Thames estuary.

These trials heralded the gigantic changes in the energy markets which have taken place since then. Very large natural gas fields have been discovered and developed all around the world, usually in places remote from user markets. Advertisement