The LNG engineering solution

10.2011
2I3 The LNG engineering solution – information and standards

Liquefied Natural Gas

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is purified
natural gas containing more than
90 % methane and cooled down to
–161 °C. In this state it is odourless,
colourless, little toxic and non-
corrosive. It is more than 600 times
more compact than in its gaseous
state and weighs half as much as
water. Natural gas can be trans-
ported safely and cost-effectively by
sea in the form of LNG, with the aid
of special tankers. This makes it a
significant alternative to pipeline-
bound natural gas. Experts are of
the opinion that LNG will be the
fastest growing energy source in
the next 20 years. It is assumed
that global reserves will not be ex-
hausted for many years.
New exportation methods have en-
abled additional gas sources to be
opened up and states to join in the
international gas business which
were previously barred from this
market on the basis of their location.
Gas-rich countries, particularly in
the Arabian and Asian regions, have
been investing in liquefaction plants
and port terminals for some years.
The major LNG exporters are at
present Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia
and Nigeria. Importing countries
are most notably Japan, India and
South Korea.
Natural gas is highly sensitive and
easily inflammable. For this reason
strict safety regulations must be ob-
served and safety precautions taken
in LNG trains, the large industrial
plants for liquefaction and regasifi-
cation of natural gas. STAHL Crane-
Systems is known internationally
as an explosion protection specialist
and is regarded as world market
leader in explosion protection tech-
nology. As a developer of numerous
innovations in this field we have had
palpable influence on crane technol-
ogy. The experience and know-how
from many decades, our own funda-
mental development, approvals
from the Federal Physico-Technical
Institute (PTB) and other inspection
authorities in many countries around
the world underline our expertise.
All explosion-protected hoist and
crane components and our system-
atic engineering solutions are based
on our standard programmes.
All parts come from our in-house
production with certified quality
assurance system, from motor and
brake to control and switchgear.
This ensures the complete high-
quality explosion protection on
which users, crane manufacturers
and systems manufacturers all over
the world have relied for decades.
The strict ATEX directives and IECEx
regulations on mechanical and
electrical explosion protection are
of course met.
 LNG liquefaction plant LNG liquefaction plant LNG receiving terminal LNG receiving terminal Main LNG trade route
with LNG hoists from with LNG hoists from
STAHL CraneSystems STAHL CraneSystems

References
Qatar Gas
Chevron
Exxon Mobile
Dolphin Energy Ltd.
Woodside Energy Ltd.
CNOOC
Formosa Petrochemical Corp.
Sagas
Enagas
Gazprom
Petronet LNG Ltd.
PTT LNG
Aker Kvaerner Contracting
Jingbian Xilan Gas Co.
Ningxia Hanas LNG Co., Ltd.
4I5

The LNG engineering solution

LNG plants The facts

The LNG hoists from STAHL CraneSystems have been
„„Constructed from field-proven
designed especially for maintenance work in natural gas
series components
liquefaction plants (LNG). Thanks to their high-quality
„„Hoist, gear, drum and motor
components and robust design they are ideal for use
doubled up
near the coast in challenging climate conditions.
„„Off-standard ropes connected by
Equipped with two rope drums, two ropes, two gears and
rope clamps, special recess in the
two motors, they are explosion-protected and certified
drum for the rope clamp
in compliance with the strict ATEX directives and IECEx
„„Design minimises risk if a rope
regulations.
should break
The pumps which pump the liquid natural gas into a pipeline
„„Integrated load sensors monitor the
system at a temperature of –161 °C must be lifted out of
suspended load
the tanks and transported to the exterior for maintenance
„„Reliable, high-performance, low-
up to five times a year. The extreme conditions prevailing
maintenance, mechanisms classi-
in the tank necessitate special ropes which are perma-
fied in accordance with FEM
nently connected to the liquid gas pump and remain in
„„Special-purpose equipment for use
the tank all the time. For maintenance work, these ropes
in LNG plants
are attached to the wire rope hoist by means of rope
„„Approvals to ATEX and IECEx
clamps, so that no hook is necessary. As all safety-
standards
relevant components are doubled up, the hoisting proce-
dure can continue without disruption even if a rope
should break. Only one rope acts as hoisting rope when
lifting the pump. The second hoist runs alongside with
a dead rope as backup. If the load rope should break
during the hoisting procedure, the second wire rope hoist
carries on hoisting. The shock-absorbing rocking sus-
pension of the hoist cushions the impact of the abrupt
load change.
Thanks to their redundant design and rocking suspension,
STAHL CraneSystems’ LNG wire rope hoists are regarded
as the safest hoists presently available on the market.

In the new Gate Terminal in the Port of Rotterdam several explosion-

protected off-standard wire rope hoists with a load capacity of
2 x 2,400 kg are in use. The hoist is equipped with two independently
driven rope drums. A pressure roller is used here instead of a
rope guide. The rope is pressed onto an end clamp to fit the quick-
action connection on the rope drum. The wire rope hoists are treated
with a special corrosion-resistant paint for saline conditions.
At Qatar Gas, redundantly designed explosion-protected LNG wire rope hoists with articulated
trolleys are used at maximum safety level 3B. The hoists have a load capacity of 6,500 kg,
thanks to their rocking suspension and supplementary equipment they are regarded as the
safest hoists on the market.

Maximum safety level 3B: Normal operation with 1/1 Accident! Normal operation with
normal operation even after rope breakage reeving The rope breaks. second hoist unit

STAHL CraneSystems offers suitable wire rope hoists for all safety levels.

Rope drums Ropes Hoist gear Reeving

Level 1 1 1 1 1/1
Level 2 2 2 1 1/1
Level 3 2 2 2 1/1
Level 3A non-rocking suspension
Level 3B rocking suspension
6I7 The LNG engineering solution

The technology

Overload cut-off

There is a challenging industry behind the natural gas liquefaction plants.

Working with inflammable gas is hazardous. As leader in explosion-protected
crane technology, STAHL CraneSystems supplies suitable hoisting equipment
for all fields of LNG technology. The range extends from explosion-protected
standard wire rope hoists for day-to-day maintenance work to the doubly
safeguarded LNG wire rope hoists guaranteeing a maximum of safety.
It is reassuring to know what convincing technlogy is concealed behind each
hoist and each component. Everything is perfectly coordinated and thus pro-
vides unvarying high performance, long service life and high efficiency. „„Load sensors in type of protection Ex i are
integrated into the swivelling suspension
points of the off-standard hoist to detect
the load
„„The arrangement of the two sensors
ensures that the load is measured even if
a rope should break, and thus prevents
overloading the hoist
„„The load summation integrated into the
control guarantees maximum safety

Control pendant Suspension Cable entry

„„The SWH 5 ex control pendants are „„The shock-absorbing rocking suspension „„Flameproof cable glands preventing the
designed specifically for controlling hoists reduces the load peaks in the event of transmission of an explosion to the
and cranes in explosion-risk areas a sudden load change between the two exterior are installed for the direct entry
„„2-step design hoists of cables into housings
„„EMERGENCY STOP palm button complying „„Post-type bushing
with IEC/EN 60947-5-5
„„IP 66 protection of casing
„„The incorporated elements are protected
by flameproof enclosure ›d‹, increased
safety ›e‹ and protection by housing ›tD‹.
Panel box and control
„„The compact panel boxes are made of
light metal or stainless steel depending on
operating conditions and application
„„High degree of safety ensured by
non-wear main contactor, long service
life of switching contactors
Rope clamp
„„Customers’ off-standard ropes for
pump maintenance are attached with
rope clamps
„„The quick-action connection means that,
depending on the intended application, the
hoist can be equipped without difficulty
with a bottom hook block
Motors
„„Safe explosion-protected sliding rotor
brake motor with conical brake and centrif-
ugal mass for low-vibration acceleration
and braking
„„Motors for Zone 1 and Zone 21 are
manufactured of grey cast iron, the type
of protection is combined of flameproof
enclosure ›d‹, increased safety ›e‹ and
protection by housing ›tD‹.
Wheels
„„The type of protection of all wheels is
constructional safety ›c‹.
„„As an option, brass wheels are available
to avoid the formation of sparks
Signal transmitters
„„Visual and acoustic signal transmitters
such as horn and flashing light meet ATEX
directives and IECEx regulations. They
can be used in Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 21 and
Zone 22
„„The signal transmitters can be activated
by a button in the control pendant
Rope drum
„„Off-standard rope drum to accommodate a
work rope, provided with a recess for
a rope clamp
„„The area of the drum without grooves is
intended to accommodate pump ropes of
varying diameter
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STAHL CraneSystems GmbH

Daimlerstr. 6, 74653 Künzelsau, Germany
Tel +49 7940 128-0, Fax +49 7940 55665
marketing@stahlcranes.com