Due to the unique labyrinth technology of labyrinth piston (Laby®) compressors and the company’s significant experience in cryogenic applications, Burckhardt Compression has been awarded two orders by PetroChina to deliver six compressors to LNG terminals in Rudong and Dalian, China.
Burckhardt Compression’s order from PetroChina LNG Jiangsu and PetroChina LNG Dalian comprises delivery of a total of six Laby compressors for the LNG terminals in Rudong, Jiangsu province and in Dalian, Liaoning province, China. The contractor responsible for the two projects is China Huanqiu Contracting & Engineering.
The Laby has a unique ultra-low maintenance piston sealing design and is therefore the ideal solution for low temperature boil-off gas applications. The gastight design reduces gas emission and losses to the environment to zero. For any LNG boil-off gas applications the Laby is the ideal compressor to be used, since it is designed to reliably and efficiently manage these specific requirements.
Each LNG terminal will operate three Laby compressors. The delivery will take place in mid-2010.
In the first phase the Jiangsu LNG terminal will be built with a 3.5 million tons per annum import capacity and is expected to be expanded to six million tons per annum in the second phase. PetroChina will use the new terminal to receive three million tons of LNG from Qatar.
The Dalian LNG terminal is designed to receive three million tons per annum of LNG in the first phase. The volume is expected to rise to 6.5 million tons per annum in the second phase. Both LNG terminals are scheduled to be in operation by the first quarter of 2011.
Laby compressors are used for liquid gas transport and storage as well as in the chemical and petrochemical industries. Laby compressors compress bone-dry, dirty, abrasive and other gases with no contamination and without oil, with a discharge pressure up to 300bar (4,350psi), flow up to 11,000Nm³/h (6,500scfm) and shaft power up to 2,200kW (3,000hp). Laby compressors are extremely reliable machines with unexcelled availability, combining high performance with a unique cooling system.
Burckhardt Compression’s Laby easily manages the compression of LNG boil-off gas at suction temperatures down to -170°C (-250°F). The compressors will be used to re-liquefy boil-off gas which forms during LNG unloading of the LNG carriers and to maintain the LNG storage temperature at -170°C.
