Modular Regasification Facility for Faster LNG Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing regasification facilities, both land-based and floating, face challenges with lengthy construction times and high costs, and require frequent LNG deliveries to justify their operation, while demand for natural gas can fluctuate, making them inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A modular and flexible regasification facility design with prefabricated components, including reduced-capacity LNG storage tanks and regasification systems, allowing for off-site construction and scalable expansion, enabling efficient offloading and regasification with reduced on-site construction costs and times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large-scale LNG storage tanks are constructed onsite to receive entire cargo from LNGCs, then the regasification plant can operate with less frequent deliveries, but the construction costs and time increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large-scale storage requirement into multiple smaller modular storage units that can be pre-fabricated offsite and assembled in parallel. This segmentation allows construction to occur simultaneously across multiple modules rather than sequentially building one large tank, thereby reducing overall construction time while maintaining sufficient total storage capacity to receive entire LNGC cargo loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements pre-fabrication of storage tanks and regasification equipment at offsite locations before final assembly at the terminal. This preliminary action allows manufacturing to occur in controlled factory environments with optimized workflows and supply chains, significantly reducing on-site construction time and enabling faster deployment of the complete regasification facility.
2Quantity of substance
If large-scale LNG storage tanks are constructed onsite, then storage capacity is sufficient for entire cargo offloading, but construction costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total required storage capacity into multiple standardized modular units that can be manufactured using optimized factory processes. This approach achieves the necessary total storage volume while benefiting from economies of scale in manufacturing, reduced material waste, and lower labor costs compared to conventional onsite construction of equivalent capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses standardized modular storage tank designs that can be replicated multiple times across the facility. These modular units are essentially copies of a proven design that has been optimized for manufacturing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, allowing the facility to achieve large total capacity without the premium costs associated with custom-building each storage unit.
3Ease of manufacture
If FSRUs are used as alternative to land-based plants, then construction costs are reduced, but operational costs increase and regasification production rates are lower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of FSRU modular construction with the capabilities of land-based facilities by using pre-fabricated modular units assembled onshore. This hybrid approach combines the cost and time benefits of modular manufacturing with the higher production rates and lower operational costs of land-based operations, achieving a solution that outperforms both traditional FSRUs and conventional land-based plants.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key operational parameters including storage capacity, regasification rate, and site location by using modular units that can be configured in various arrangements. This flexibility allows optimization of production rates to match local demand while maintaining cost-effectiveness, enabling the facility to operate at higher utilization levels than FSRUs without incurring their operational cost penalties.
4Ease of manufacture
If frequent LNG deliveries are required to justify operation, then construction costs are reduced, but operational efficiency decreases when demand fluctuates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamically scalable facility using modular units that can be selectively activated or deactivated based on demand levels. This dynamic configuration allows the facility to efficiently handle both frequent small deliveries and less frequent large cargo offloadings by adjusting the number of active storage and regasification modules, thereby maintaining operational efficiency across varying demand conditions without requiring continuous high-frequency deliveries.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The facility enables faster construction, reduced costs, and flexible scalability to meet varying LNG demand, optimizing operational efficiency and reducing the need for frequent LNG deliveries.
Implementation Method 1
at least one vaporizer in communication with the intake system and each including piping passing through at least one heating chamber and though which a volume of LNG is moved; wherein as the flow of LNG moves through the at least one heating chamber, the LNG is heated to convert the LNG to a regasified natural gas
Data Source
AI summary
A regasification facility, regasification systems and methods for import, offloading and regasification of liquid natural gas from liquid natural gas carriers is provided. The regasification facility is configured to provide increased flexibility in the construction so as to enable substantial reductions in construction times and costs of the construction of the regasification facility to be constructed and brought into operation, and to be further scaled up quickly and efficiently versus traditionally constructed and operated land based regasification plants and/or floating storage and regasification units.