AiP for Osaka Gas for gas conversion project

It is the first time that AiP has been granted in Japan for this type of equipment.

The LPG Reformer is designed to convert LPG into synthetic methane gas equivalent to the kind found in LNG. Because it is mainly composed of propane and butane, LPG is susceptible to abnormal combustion known as ‘knocking’ making it difficult to use as a fuel for lean burn gas engines and dual fuel engines. By converting LPG into synthetic methane gas prior to fuelling, the risks of knocking can be reduced, resulting in the same operational performance as when using LNG.

Additionally, by using LPG as fuel, emissions of environmentally harmful substances such as SOx and NOx can be significantly reduced compared to when using conventional heavy oil fuels

Furthermore, when using LPG as fuel, the ‘International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels’ (IGF code) applies. The current IGF code, however, does not address specific regulations for alternative fuels other than LNG.

For this reason, ClassNK released ‘Guidelines for Ships Using Low-Flashpoint Fuels (Methyl/EthylAlcohol/LPG)’ in June 2019 which outline safety requirements for other viable alternative fuels besides LNG. The recently issued AiP to Osaka Gas is also in line with these guidelines.