LNG-in-a-box for trucks

GE Oil & Gas has introduced small-scale, plug-and-play, re-deployable liquefied natural gas solution called LNG-in-a-box system, which will allow use of natural gas as a cost-effective and cleaner transportation fuel.

An illustration showing LNG-in-a-box as a key component of the GE Oil & Gas value chain

Luxembourg-based Gasfin, through its operating company AIR-LNG, will deliver the first LNG-in-a-box system for LNG fuelling stations in Europe. Gasfin has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with GE, to install five LNG-in-a-box units, which will serve as clusters for LNG fuelling stations, while the first unit will be installed near the border of Italy and Slovenia.

Each LNG-in-a-box unit is fitted with a gas pre-treatment system, cold box assembly and boil-off gas compressor, turboexpander compressor, high-speed reciprocating compressor, electric motor, and driver and control system. The units for Gasfin will be manufactured in the United States and will be shipped to Gasfin’s LNG fueling sites in Europe.

The new system can be used in different industry sectors, which include highway transportation, marine, rail as well as in remote industries, such as mining and distributed power generation. It can cover an LNG production range of 10,000-50,000 gallons a day, which is equal to 16t to18t per day and requires low CapEx and OpEx commitment.

Small-scale solutions such as this system may encourage the transition of long-haul trucks from diesel fuel to LNG. In the case of North America, fuel savings may yield a three-year payback based on current fuel prices, according to GE. This is said to be a major contributor to North American emissions reduction goals by potentially displacing about 1.7 million barrels a day of oil, while reducing total GHG emissions by 7-15 percent.