New approach to predicting LNG boil-off rate

Accurate assessment of the rate of boil-off is critical for the design of the cargo tank and the boil-off gas processing system. A robust CFD analysis procedure was developed modelling the physics of heat transfer, boiling, phase change and vapour flow. Extensive simulations were run on a representative LNG carrier and actual boil-off rate measurements were taken to demonstrate the accuracy of the analysis results.

“By expanding the application of CFD analysis to simulate boil off in cargo tanks, owners are able to better predict boil-off gas and account for it in future designs and operations of LNG carriers,” said Howard Fireman, chief technology officer, ABS.

Vassilis Millas, project engineer, GasLog FSRU, added: “By taking a collaborative approach with ABS on this project, we were able to demonstrate and prove the viability of CFD analysis to determine boil-off rate. This will allow us to build efficiencies into future designs.”