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 Agility Gas Technologies (AGT) is developing the design of a Jumbo Ethylene Carrier (JEC) utilizing their concept for storing, handling and shipping ethylene and similar high-value liquefied gases in large quantities. AGT requested Herbert Engineering Corp. (HEC) to assist with design work, particularly with the cargo containment, cargo handling and the shipâspecific aspects. The ship design has been developed sufficiently to provide proof of concept, to progress discussions with shipyards regarding pricing and construction, and to progress discussions with potential business partners. Agility Gas Technologies' patented concept to keep ethylene cold relies on a simple process, where the ethylene will be circulated through a heat exchanger that uses LNG as the coolant. This design is much simpler and lower capital cost than conventional reliquefaction plants for ethylene, so it should be more reliable and therefore provide significant advantages in terms of enhanced safety. Warmed LNG flashed to gas is then used for propulsion and to generate electricity for various ship services. A relatively small amount of LNG, approximately 10-15% of the cargo tankage, will be required onboard at departure for use as the cooling medium during the loaded voyage and as fuel for propulsion for the round trip. Additionally, this system should be safer than the current standard of carrying ethylene at pressure in Type C tanks because in the event of a tank breech, there will be no rapid release of pressure. Furthermore, ethylene is being carried below its flash point. Storage of liquefied ethylene is in insulated tanks within the cargo block of a ship. Two ship designs have been developed, one utilizing GTT's Mark III membrane containment system, and a second utilizing Type B Independent tanks. A number of shipyards should be qualified to build the ship, including those which are licensed to build the Mark III membrane tanks. Shipyards not currently qualified to build the Mark III membrane system can instead provide ships with independent tanks. While AGT has a specific trade in mind, the ships would be designed for unrestricted service worldwide. They would be designed in accordance with IMO regulations for ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk (the International Gas Code). Further, the ships will comply with US Coast Guard requirements for Gas Carriers entering US ports. At a high level, the ship design is similar to and derived from LNG carriers. Although the liquefied ethylene is warmer than LNG, it is still cryogenic. The major difference between LNG and liquefied ethylene is that the ethylene is almost 50% more dense than LNG. The design investigated has tankage for storage of approximately 165,000 cubic meters of liquefied gas. Principal particulars for these ships (length, beam, draft) allow them full access to the Panama Canal New Locks and most existing LNG terminals. HEC: 8 Aug 19  |
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Ethylene is normally made from either ethane or naphtha. Because ethylene is a gas under normal conditions, it is charged into shared pipelines by the manufacturer and withdrawn from those same pipelines by converters, who make a wide range of polymers, industrial chemicals and fine chemicals used in food, medicine and many household goods. Ethylene manufacturers and ethylene converters are dependent upon one another because they operate within a small geographic region defined by the pipeline which is the storage medium that they work through. Therefore, ethylene prices are regional. In Europe, where ethane is more expensive, ethylene is generally 15 to 40% more expensive than in the USA. In the Middle East where natural gas is plentiful, the cost to manufacture ethylene value drops to just 30% to 60% of the cost in North America largely due to the lower cost of natural gas and naphtha in that region. The Agility Gas Technologies are two-fold: First, provide a safer and less expensive method to move ethylene from a low cost producer to a high value location, generating more profit potential for the low cost source. Second, by making the method of moving ethylene by ship safer and lower in cost, adoption of the technology can occur more quickly.
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 A New Method to Transport High Value Gases Agility Gas Gas Transport Technology (GTT) moves higher value gases such as propane, propylene, R13, R14 and ethane as liquids by co-transporting them with LNG at or near the boiling point of LNG. Ethylene and propylene are more than 4 ... READ MORE |
 The Economics of Agility Gas GTT At the beginning of 2009, global ethylene production was 126.7 million tones (279 billion pounds) per year. In 2008, 7 million tones per year (tpy) were added. Ethylene production capacity in North America was about 36 million tpy (Mtpy) at ... READ MORE |
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Patented HVG Co-transporting Technology |  Works with Existing Technology |  Higher Profits from Higher Value Cargo |  New Raw Material Source for Existing Users |