Abstract
The development of sail gas has increased the production of ethane as well as natural gas. The decline in the market price for ethane has led to a change in the petroleum-based ethylene production process into an ethane-based ethylene production process and an increase in the ethane/ethylene trade volume. Large-scale ethane/ethylene carrier have been needed due to an increase in long-distance trade from the US, and cargo type change have leaded to consider a liquefaction process to re-liquefy Boil-Off gas generated during the voyage. In this paper, the liquefaction system of Liquefied Ethane Gas carrier was evaluated with Low-GWP (Low-Global Warming Potential) refrigerant and process parameters, Boil-Off Gas pressure and expansion valve outlet pressure, were optimized. Low-GWP refrigerants were propane (R290), propylene(R1270), carbon dioxide(R744) was considered at two type of liquefaction process such as Linde and cascade cycle. The results show that the optimal pressure point depends on the individual refrigerant and the highest liquefaction efficiency of carbon dioxide (R744) - propane (R290) refrigerant.