Optimal Gas Detection System in Cargo Compressor Room of Gas Fueled LNG Carrier

Abstract

This study analyzes the optimal location of gas detectors through the gas dispersion in a cargo compressor room of a 174K LNG carrier equipped with high-pressure cargo handling equipment; in addition, we propose a reasonable method for determining the safety regulations specified in the new International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC). To conduct an LNG gas dispersion simulation in the cargo compressor room-equipped with an ME-GI engine-of a 174 K LNG carrier, the geometry of the room as well as the equipment and piping, are designed using the same 3D size at a 1-to-1 scale. Scenarios for a gas leak were examined under high pressure of 305 bar and low pressure of 1 bar. The pinhole sizes for high pressure are 4.5, 5.0, and 5.6mm, and for low pressure are 100 and 140 mm. The results demonstrate that the cargo compressor room will not pose a serious risk with respect to the flammable gas concentration as verified by a ventilation assessment for a 5.6 mm pinhole for a high-pressure leak under gas rupture conditions, and a low-pressure leak of 100 and 140 mm with different pinhole sizes. However, it was confirmed that the actual location of the gas detection sensors in a cargo compressor room, according to the new IGC code, should be moved to other points, and an analysis of the virtual monitor points through a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation.