LNG properties

Fuel consumption calculation

Rudolf Wettstein
Application Development
May 15, 2012

Wrtsil

What is natural gas?

Natural gas is mostly methane (CH4)
Methane contains the highest amount of energy per unit of carbon of
any fossil fuel
Carbon to hydrogen ratio 1 / 4 (gasoline: 1 / 2,25)
Lower CO2 emissions

H
Natural gas is:
A very safe fuel
Non-toxic
Lighter than air

H
H

Methane (CH4)
Wrtsil

Ethane (C2H6)

LNG standard
LNG composition:
methane
ethane + propane
other

85 1 0 -

Properties
Condensing temperature
Condensing heat
Density as liquid
Density as gas
Lower heat value

Wrtsil

430 0,75 -

99 %
15 %
2 %

-162 C
0,15 MWh/kg

(1,013 bar)
(-162 C)

480 kg/m3
0,85 kg/m3n

(-162 C)
(0 C / 1,013 bar)

9,8 10,5 kWh / m3n

35280 - 37800 kJ / m3n
41500 - 50000 kJ / kg
(not included in standard)

Fuel consumption calculation

Example for 8L50DF medium-speed dual-fuel engine
LNG fuel consumption
MCR- power
Specific energy consumption at MCR
Specific heat rate of LNG
LNG density
Daily consumption

LNG fuel cost

Assumed price of LNG
1 mmBTU is 1,055,056 kJ

Wrtsil

7800 kW at 514 rpm

7150 kJ/kWh
49000 kJ/kg (depending on gas composition)
460 kg/m3 (depending on gas composition)
7800 kW x 7150 kJ/kWh x 24 h / 49000 kJ/kg = 27316 kg
or 59.4 m3

15 USD/mmBTU (depending on country, seller, quanity,

etc)
49000 kJ/kg x 15 USD/mmBTU x 1000 / 1055056 kJ
= 697 USD/ton