Wartsila LNGPac receives DNV GL AIP certificate

The new Wärtsilä LNGPac, the upgraded version of the company’s successful LNG fuel handling system, has been granted an AIP (Approval in Principle) Certificate from the classification society DNV GL.

The AIP Certificate covers Wärtsilä’s innovative improvements to the original LNGPac. The new solution has removed the heating media skid and its pumps, and includes an improvement to the Wärtsilä Cold Recovery solution. The certificate is based on technical material and safety analyses, and includes documentation concerning normal operation of the system and a presentation of risk scenarios. In effect it means that the system is judged to be safe and reliable and that it will be approved by classes in actual projects.

The heating media skid, a complete circuit of heat exchangers, pumps and piping, was earlier used to evaporate LNG for pressurising the storage tank and to provide the engine with the correct gas temperature. In looking beyond the fuel gas system, Wärtsilä has demonstrated its ability to integrate multiple interfaces within the LNGPac. Instead of the heating media skid, the new LNGPac system directly utilises the engine’s cooling water, which results in fewer interfaces and less installation work for the shipyard. By eliminating electrical consumers, Wärtsilä enables the vessel to become even more environmentally friendly.

New innovative solutions have been applied to almost every aspect of the new, compact and easy to install fuel gas system. Besides the removal of the heating media skid and improvements to the Cold Recovery solution, the new LNGPac features innovations such as an integrated airlock and control cabinet, a more compact bunkering station, an enclosed or integrated gas valve unit, and maximised LNG storage volume. Several of the features have been patented by Wärtsilä.

Press Release, September 9, 2014; Image: Wärtsilä