LNG Ambient Air Vaporizer

General Concept about LNG Ambient Air Vaporizer

 

The LNG Ambient Air Vaporizer, as its name implies, is a vaporization equipment used for converting LNG into its gaseous form. It is also considered the simplest type of vaporizer employed in the low-temperature industry, based on its manufacturing principle. 

 

 

Why do we call the Ambient Air Vaporizer the Simplest Type and Energy-free?

 

It actually depends on the way it works. When LNG, which is at a temperature below -160°C, flows inside the tubes with fins that are used to absorb heat from the ambient air without any power consumption, the vaporizing process occurs. The LNG continuously takes in heat from the tube along its entire length, resulting in its transition from a liquid to a gaseous state, eventually reaching a temperature which is similar to the surrounding air. Through the whole process, there is no external power consumed. That is how energy-free realized

 

Where are these equipments applied maybe?

 

As most projects we have met, It is mostly applied in LNG receiving terminals,  LNG regasification plants, City Peak-shaving Stations, L-CNG filling stations， steel mills or LNG power plants.

 

 

 

 

 

What knowledge of LNG Ambient Air Vaporizer should I master, before purchasing it ?

 

• What manufacturing standard is applied in the importing country? Does it accept China's GB standards or international standards such as ASME, CE, or PED?
• The minimum and maximum vaporizing capacity that you demand
• The output gas pressure required at user's end
• The climate and ambient temperature at local in different seasons, which means a different vaporizing capcity and operating time restrictions.
• Per NFPA 59A (Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas) regulations, it is imperative to adhere to a minimum clearance of 5 ft (1.5 m) between vaporizers.

 

 

During the Equipment's Performance, is there anything that we have to take care about?

 

Because of the moisture content in the surrounding air, the vaporizer is susceptible to frost formation. Consequently, regular defrosting is necessary, typically occurring every 4-8 hours. The frequency of defrosting depends on both the ambient air temperature and the desired outlet temperature of the natural gas. If a higher temperature for the natural gas is desired, more frequent switching of the vaporizer is required to maintain efficient operation.

 

Therefore， When employing an ambient air vaporizer, it is critical to have a dual setup comprising two sets of vaporizers: one designated for active operation and the other as a standby unit. This redundancy ensures uninterrupted operation by enabling a smooth transition between vaporizers when maintenance or defrosting is required.

 

 

Compared to  AAV (Ambient Air Vaporizer) which is zero-energy consumption, 

why sometimes the end users would choose FAV ( Forced Air Vaporizer)?

 

1. Need for higher vaporization rate: Compared to AAV, FAV generally offers a higher vaporization rate. If there is a requirement for rapid and substantial LNG vaporization, such as in high-demand industrial production processes, FAV can provide higher vaporization capacity.

 

2. Environmental constraints: AAV's performance may be affected by environmental conditions, such as extremely low or high temperatures. In such cases, choosing FAV might be more suitable as it can provide stable vaporization by utilizing an external heat source.

 

From my perspective, in locations where the climate is consistently warm or even hot, such as tropical regions, the aforementioned limitations become inconsequential. The crucial factor that determines the performance is the ambient temperature itself. As long as the temperature remains sufficiently high, all other concerns fade away. Hence, in such environments, AAV emerges as the superior and optimal choice without any doubt.

 

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