Modular LNG Facility Systems

Northstar's Modular LNG Stations provide a single building alternative, expandable to meet future demands, for LNG custody transfer stations meeting all D.O.T., N.F.P.A., and A.G.A. requirements. These stations are designed and preconstructed entirely off-site including manufactured vaporizer skid, truck unloading skid, and LNG tanks installed on the customer's work site (click on photo for enlargement).

Project Economics

The economics of a peakshaving plant are usually based upon avoided pipeline demand charges along with a component of avoided capitol cost for some alternative pipeline solution. Pipeline capacity is commonly purchased for $1,000,000 to $4,000,000 per year for each 10,000 dekatherms/day of capacity. Small LNG peakshaving facilities can typically be constructed for a onetime capitol expenditure of $1,000,000 to $4,000,000. The annual carrying costs for these facilities are derived from (financing plus operations/maintenance). If a $2,000,000 plant has an annual carrying cost of $300,000 per year, and it can avoid $1,000,000 per year in demand charges from the pipeline, then, it is simple arithmetic to justify peakshaving.

The economics of baseload facility are somewhat different. The economics of baseload facilities are generally driven by cost of the baseload LNG vapor as compared to alternative fuels available. These facilities can be installed at industrial sites or a stand alone utility system. Many operators are unaware of the great potential at the industrial sites for volumes of sales. An industrial customer running three shifts at 100 dekatherms/hour can use 800,000 dekatherms/year of load. LNG can be produced for prices of $3.00 to $4.00/dekatherm. Transport can commonly cost between $.50 to $2.00 depending on travel time. The simplified cost per dekatherm of vaporized LNG is now determined by (fuel cost plus annual financing minus operations/maintenance plus annual profit) / annual load.

Northstar's Modular System Design is based on patent-pending reheating technology as well as extensive vaporizer replacement experience of the design team.

Codes And Standards

All systems can be designed and constructed in accordance with the following codes and standards: 49 CFR Part 193; NFPA 59A; NCSBC; and NCSBC Administration.

System Design

The off-site design allows all major components needed by the customer to fit in a single, or multiple precast concrete building and still meet or exceed all applicable codes and standards. In a typical configuration, all materials are assembled, painted, tubed, labeled, wired, tagged, and installed in a four-sided, precast concrete building manufactured by Northstar before the building is shipped to the field. This greatly reduces the normal site time for welders, laborers, and project management; greatly reducing costs from the traditional, on-site, build-in-place, method historically employed in the industry.

This Modular System Design also eliminates the costly need for the customer to design and fabricate separate meter and control facilities. This cost saving effort reduces land costs, engineering overhead, and materials expense.

Typically, prior to construction of an LNG facility, a utility relies heavily on pipeline capacity from suppliers. The price of this capacity is usually based upon a demand charge and a commodity charge. The load characteristics of many facilities result in very expensive peak volumes. Consequently, many LNG facilities, especially municipal gas systems, can be faced with peak-day charges exceeding $100 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). The Northstar System approach allows for a much smaller building footprint, and extends flexibility and efficiency. In summary, the Northstar System provides a more efficient means of reducing construction costs.

Major Design Modules

Metering

Preheating (using a proprietary shell and tube heating method)

Pressure regulation

Odorization

Control/SCADA Interface

Electric cogeneration

Benefits

The Northstar Modular System LNG Design provides a turnkey, all concrete, single or multiple, preconstructed facility engineered to your specifications and needs and delivered to your job site.

Fast-track regulatory and insurance approval process, financial considerations, siting logistics, long lead time equipment definition and procurement, and design and construction contractor management process.

System design reduces project costs, shortens project schedule, simplifies operation, and provides economic peak shaving supply

System approach to gate station upgrade or new facility construction

Greatly reduces project costs

Reduces overall site size

Expandable to meet your future needs

Preconstructed off-site

No down time due to adverse weather

Significant reduction in travel and associated costs