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Wärtsilä BOG Reliquefaction

Wärtsilä is a leading designer, developer and supplier of energy efficient LNG Boil-Off Gas (BOG)
reliquefaction plants. These systems are designed to be efficient, reliable, safe, robust and flexible.

With 35 systems in operation and an additional 8 plants under construction, Wärtsilä has the highest
number of BOG reliquefaction plants installed in the global LNG carrier fleet. Similar solutions could
also be installed with onshore LNG terminals.

The BOG reliquefaction process is based on reversed nitrogen Brayton cycle refrigeration
technology, combined with a process solution for separating nitrogen from the BOG. This
means that the process is a closed nitrogen cycle for extracting heat from the boil-off
gas. Typically, the reliquefaction system is used to control the cargo tank pressure by liquefying
boil-off gas. They have the capability to handle all boil-off gas (100% capacity) or only
excessive boil-off gas not burned in the engines (partly liquefaction).

For smaller BOG capacities the Mixed Refrigerant (MR) system offers a number of advantages,
such as a standard component with shorter delivery time, reduced CAPEX, and easier
maintenance. The screw compressor in the MR loop is well proven in refrigerant loops.
The BOG reliquefaction system could be installed for vessels, offshore installations, or onshore
facilities such as LNG terminals.

Figure 1: Nitrogen loop

Figure 2: Mixed refrigerant (MR) loop

Figure 3: Deckhouse arrangement

Wärtsilä has commercialised and improved reliquefaction technology since it was originally patented
by Kværner and licensed by Hamworthy in the late 1990s.
Our boil-off gas (BOG) reliquefaction plants have been installed on numerous vessels, including the
entire Q-Flex fleet of 216.000 m3 LNG carriers. The 31 Wärtsilä LNG BOG reliquefaction plants
delivered to the Q-Flex fleet are installed on ships driven by slow speed diesel propulsion engines.
We have also delivered the same type of systems to a number of LNG carriers with dual-fuel diesel
electric (DFDE) propulsion.

Wärtsilä has a number of new contracts where our reliquefaction systems are combined with
different propulsion systems. This means that we are supplying complete and integrated systems
that include BOG reliquefaction and fuel gas supply systems as compressor solutions, and LNG
pump solutions required for feeding engines with low and/or high pressure gas.

The installation of a BOG reliquefaction system on dual-fuel LNG carriers, allows ship operators the
added flexibility to switch between fuels so as to take advantage of price differentials between LNG
and heavy fuel oil. State-of-the-art propulsion systems are efficient and not all the boil-off gas can be
utilized in the engine. Furthermore, slow speed sailing and ship holding operations often result in an
excess of boil-off gas. Instead of burning this gas in a gas combustion unit, it can be reliquefied and
returned to the cargo tanks.

The liquefaction of BOG on LNG carriers results in increased cargo deliveries and allows owners
and operators to choose the optimal propulsion system and operating profile. The advantages are
extremely attractive; a flexible fuel system, optimized operating costs, and increased delivered cargo
capacity.