Air Products’ Refrigerant LNG Process Technology Passes Performance Test

Air Products’ AP-DMR process and equipment, which was deployed at the Coral South floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) plant in Mozambique, Africa, passed its performance test and achieved LNG production above 3.4 million tons per year.

“Having been selected to participate in this landmark project is a significant achievement and the first project to leverage our very efficient AP-DMR LNG process,” said Dr. John Palamara, General Manager – LNG at Air Products. “Our supplied equipment having successfully completed performance testing is the direct result of the expertise and experience of our team, from all areas of the LNG business, working in close collaboration and in support of TP JGC Coral France (the EPC joint venture of Technip Energies France SAS and JGC Corporation) executing the project and Coral FLNG S.A.”

The dual-mixed refrigerant LNG process maintains a high efficiency, reliable operation, and has a compact footprint. Its process efficiency, in combination with aeroderivative machinery, lowers the carbon intensity in comparison to other LNG processes in floating applications.

Coral South FLNG represents the country’s first LNG project in operation and the first deep-water FLNG project for all of Africa. Air Products previously participated in this project in 2013 with conceptual work, which allowed for the recent selection and implementation of its AP-DMR LNG process technology and equipment. In terms of supplied equipment, the company provided two coil-wound main cryogenic heat exchangers (CWHEs)—one for precooling and one for liquefaction.

Coral South FLNG in Mozambique; Image Credits: Air Products

These CWHEs were fabricated and assembled at Air Products’ LNG equipment manufacturing facility in Port Manatee, FL. The company also provided technical advisory services for the installation, commissioning, start-up, and performance testing of its AP-DMR process. Its LNG process will also be installed for Energia Costa Azul LNG’s land-based project under construction in Mexico. Air Products’ LNG liquefaction technology and equipment is installed on major deep-water, offshore FLNG projects in addition to Coral South, such as Shell Prelude, Petronas FLNG Satu, and Petronas FLNG Dua.

In May 2023, Air Products inked an investment agreement worth $1 billion with the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Uzbekneftegaz JSC (UNG) to purchase, own, and operate a natural gas-to-syngas processing facility in Uzbekistan's Qashqadaryo Province. The plant produces 1.5 million tons annually of high-value synthetic fuels for domestic consumption and possible export.

The acquisition agreement, in line with Air Products' focus on on-site business operations, allows the company to acquire and run two large-scale air separation units, two large-scale auto-thermal reforming units, and a hydrogen production unit within the Uzbek GTL complex. These facilities will supply oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and syngas to UNG under a long-term, take-or-pay/fixed fee agreement. UNG will provide the feedstock natural gas and utilities and will take on all products.

The company also won several NASA supply contracts totaling over $130 million to provide liquid hydrogen to various NASA locations, including Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and other facilities. Liquid hydrogen is used by NASA as fuel in cryogenic rocket engines, combined with liquid oxygen, with hydrogen's unique properties supporting aeronautics development.