Dual Fuel Electric Propulsion Systems in LNG Shipping.pdf

Dual Fuel Electric Propulsion Systems in LNG Shipping

Alexander Harsema-Mensonides
Managing Director
MPT Consultancy

Introduction

Since the beginning of the 21st century, LNG has been very much in the picture. Oil majors are
expecting that LNG will be taking a much larger share in the energy mix in the next 25 years. The LNG
value chain necessarily involves LNG shipping. It’s in this part of the value chain that we’ve seen
some major technology changes recently. The introduction of the dual fuel diesel electric (DFDE) LNG
carrier (LNGC) and the slow speed diesel driven LNGC with onboard reliquefaction (DRL) are radical
departures from the currently dominant steam turbine drive technology. The introduction of the dual
fuel diesel electric drive systems could also open the door for dual fuel gas turbine electric (DFGTE)
propulsion systems, as they are based on the same electric drive concept.

Figure 1: LNG carrier "Provalys". Image courtesy
of ABB Marine
In November 2006, the LNG carrier “Provalys”
was delivered to her owner Gaz de France by
French shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique (now
part of Aker Yards). “Provalys” is the world’s first
operational dual fuel electric driven LNGC. Her
sister ship “Gaselys” followed in early 2007. Firm
orders for more than thirty DFDE LNGC’s have
been placed, mainly with Korean