Nano-station for LNG refuelling in South America

The Incat-built ship will be fuelled from a Cryobox LNG refuelling ‘nano-station’ developed by Argentinian gas technology company GNC Galileo. The Cryobox is designed to produce LNG in relatively small quantities for private consumers. Buquebus is using seven Cryobox units to provide gas for Francisco, which uses about 66 tons of fuel per day. This makes Buquebus the first ferry operator to provide its own LNG fuel supply, which the company estimates will realise fuel cost savings of at least 50% over conventional fuels, as well as reduced emissions. The 100m catamaran ferry is powered by GE gas turbines running on LNG, and can travel at 58 knots.

According to Galileo, each Cryobox module can reach a maximum of 12 ton/day (4,480 GGE/day or 7,000 gal/day) of LNG (equivalent to 16,000 Nm³/day of natural gas). Capacity that can grow at the pace of the demand, through addition of modules. The company adds that the Cryobox operates on ‘Plug and Play’ principles, meaning that modules can be sent to any destination by trailer, and immediately commissioned by connecting straight to a gas distribution pipeline distribution or to a modular treatment plant, which allows gas pre-conditioning in remote locations. In addition, each module can generate up to 2,000 Nm³/h of CNG depending on demand.

“Cryobox is the result of five years of development and investigation, built on 30 years’ expertise in the manufacturing of gas compressors in Argentina,” says Osvaldo del Campo, CEO of Galileo. “It represents a worldwide innovative leap, as it is one-of-a-kind equipment, due to its compact dimensions and modular configuration.”