Centrifugal Refrigerating Equipment for L. P. G. Tanker

Abstract

Thre are two major methods of reliquefying LPG, i. e. one is direct refrigerating method and another is indirect refrigerating method. For direct system, minimum available capacity of centrifugal refrigeration unit is ca. 200 ref. tons. So, there is a possibility to adopt direct centrifugal system for larger LPG tanker in the near future. For indirect system, two tandem compound drive-through centrifugal compressors of low pressure and high pressure casings with one driver-steam turbine or motor-are now in operation and also under construction. But the cross compound system which is consist of low pressure and high pressure compressors driven by separate drivers is a new tendency for the future, because of its low running cost and also good flexibility in operation.