Overcoming the "bottleneck" problem and accelerating the localization of key equipment for national pipeline LNG receiving stations

The unloading arm, ultra-low temperature safety valve, and ultra-low temperature butterfly valve are all core key equipment of LNG (liquefied natural gas) receiving stations. China's LNG industry started relatively late, and due to its high technological content, it has long been controlled by foreign enterprises for its core technology. These key equipment have long relied on imports, which has constrained the construction of LNG receiving stations in China. The COVID-19 has led to the failure of foreign manufacturers to supply goods on schedule, increased the risk of foreign procurement, and also restricted the project operation and maintenance support capacity.

The National Pipeline Construction Project Management Branch fully implements the Party Group's decision to adhere to innovation and strengthen enterprises, actively promotes the localization of key equipment and materials for LNG receiving stations, and solves the bottleneck problem. The China Industry Daily reporter learned that as of now, these three types of key equipment with completely independent intellectual property rights have been gradually applied to the Longkou Nanshan LNG receiving station.

The Longkou Nanshan LNG receiving station project is the first newly built national level major energy infrastructure project since the establishment of the National Pipeline Group, and it is also the largest LNG receiving station currently under construction in China.

All 5 unloading arm core components are made of "Chinese chip".

The LNG unloading arm is a key equipment that affects the loading and unloading of LNG receiving stations, and its core technology has long been monopolized by several foreign enterprises. The construction project management company has chosen a large state-owned enterprise with strong domestic capabilities to jointly promote the localization research and development of key equipment for the "LNG receiving station large-diameter shore based intelligent loading and unloading arm" through "unveiling and leading". This product (specification: 16 "design temperature: -196 ℃~65 ℃) has completed the overall room temperature performance test, low-temperature performance test, and three core component type tests of" low-temperature rotary joint, emergency release device, and quick connection device ". The rotary joint has passed 400000 dynamic performance tests in an ultra-low temperature liquid nitrogen environment of -196 ℃; the emergency release device can urgently shut off the shut-off valve within 5 to 10 seconds and quickly separate the ship from the loading and unloading arm within 2 seconds; this set of liquefied natural gas intelligent loading and unloading arm with completely independent intellectual property rights has been developed and manufactured. At the same time, this domestically produced equipment can reduce equipment procurement costs by 40% and shorten the supply cycle by 6 months.

At present, the construction project management company is responsible for the construction of the first phase of the Longkou Nanshan LNG receiving station. All 5 core components of the unloading arms are domestically developed and independently developed, which is the first time in the construction of a domestic LNG receiving station. This marks a significant breakthrough in the localization of core components of large-diameter shore based intelligent loading and unloading arms.

Ultra low temperature large-sized butterfly valves to avoid foreign procurement risks.

Ultra low temperature butterfly valves are the core key equipment to ensure the long-term, efficient, safe and reliable operation of LNG receiving stations. The demand for 28 inch and above large-diameter butterfly valves with high technological content is high, mainly relying on imported brands, with high construction and operation costs. In addition, the supply cycle of imported products is long, which seriously restricts the construction period of LNG receiving stations.

The construction project management company is leading the joint project for the "42 inch 150 pound, 28 inch 150 pound" three eccentric ultra-low temperature butterfly valve project. During the development process, the research group strictly grasped the quality of valves and accessories, conducted on-site supervision of the entire valve development process, and requested the manufacturer to directly purchase and replace the valve body with repair welding, spot welding, and other problems. They also proposed upgrading the material forgings of the integrated casting valve cover, changing the welding connection method of the extension rod to the integrated casting, and consciously improving the manufacturing standards of these high-end products. In April 2023, at the product appraisal meeting jointly organized by the China Machinery Industry Federation and the China General Machinery Industry Association, the product unanimously passed the appraisal. Domestically produced large-sized three eccentric ultra-low temperature butterfly valves save about 60% of costs and shorten the supply cycle by 40% compared to imported butterfly valves with the same specifications and functions.

Ultra low temperature safety valves fill the domestic gap.

As an important part of the main equipment of LNG receiving stations, valves are crucial equipment to ensure the long-term, efficient, safe and reliable operation of LNG receiving stations. They have been jointly initiated by the Construction Project Management Company, Nanshan (Shandong) Natural Gas Co., Ltd., and domestic manufacturers for research and development. On May 24, 2023, the prototype of the domestically produced "ultra-low temperature safety valve" completed various factory tests and third-party inspection tests, and also passed the localization appraisal.

Experts including Shen Xuechen, former chief engineer of the Valve Branch of the China General Machinery Industry Association, and Li Shuxun, doctoral supervisor of Lanzhou University of Technology, believe that the successful trial production of 3 inches has been achieved × 4-inch 1500 pound domestically produced ultra-low temperature and high pressure spring type safety valve, 4-inch × The 6-inch 1500 pound domestically produced ultra-low temperature and high-pressure pilot operated safety valve is conducive to changing the long-term dependence of domestic ultra-low temperature valves on imports, effectively avoiding foreign procurement risks, improving economic benefits, and promoting the localization process. At the same time, improving the quality level of domestication of key equipment in LNG receiving stations can promote the healthy development of domestic ultra-low temperature valve industry towards autonomy and localization. (China Industry Daily reporter Yu Na)