Alfa Laval GCU leading LNG boil-off gas choice for newbuilds

Alfa Laval Gas Combustion Unit in the Alfa Laval Test & Training Center, Aalborg, Denmark

DECEMBER 11, 2018 — Alfa Laval reports that its Gas Combustion Unit (GCU) has been chosen for boil-off gas management on more than half of the LNG carriers built during 2018. This brings the total number of GCUs sold to well over 100.

Since buying the fledgling technology in 2013, Alfa Laval has proven the GCU concept and built up a strong position for the product in the LNG market. The simple and reliable unit has few components and a minimal number of interfaces and moving parts.

“The Alfa Laval GCU has proven a very good solution for our needs,” says Miltos Zisis, Innovation and Technology Manager at GasLog, which manages one of the world’s largest LNG fleets and purchased the 100th GCU from Alfa Laval. “Between its compactness and simplicity, the GCU is easily integrated into our LNG carriers and provides the high reliability we demand.”

Alfa Laval has continued to develop the GCU technology, both in partnership with customers and at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Center in Aalborg, Denmark.

“Numerous GCU advances have been made at the Alfa Laval Test & Training Centre, such as a full free-flow application that enables full-capacity burning at low inlet pressure without the need for gas compressors,” says Pieter Borg, Manager Exhaust & Combustion Systems at Alfa Laval. “We have also implemented Alfa Laval Touch Control, which is the same control system used on other Alfa Laval products, such as Aalborg boilers and Smit inert gas generators.”

A smaller version of the GCU is set for commercial release in 2019, optimized for 100–1,000 kg/h of boil-off gas.

“The smaller GCU will be an excellent fit for small LNG carriers, floating storage and regasification units, LNG bunker vessels and vessels using LNG as fuel, which also need an option for burning boil-off gas,” says Borg.