Samsung Heavy Industries, Industry's First LNG Liquefaction Technology ClassNK Certification

US ABS Design Approval (DDA)... Successful Technological Independence from Overseas ENG Companies
Expect Strengthened Competitiveness in FLNG and LNG Value Chain Product Orders

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Samsung Heavy Industries has succeeded in developing the 'Natural Gas Liquefaction Cycle' technology, a core technology for large-scale offshore facilities, for the first time in the shipbuilding industry.

On the 1st, Samsung Heavy Industries announced that it had obtained Detailed Design Approval for LNG liquefaction technology from the American classification society ABS.

Through this, Samsung Heavy Industries expects to break away from dependence on advanced overseas engineering companies that possess the original technology, reducing costs related to technology fees and equipment selection restrictions, and strengthening its status as an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) company capable of independently designing liquefaction processes.

The natural gas liquefaction process is a core LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) related technology that enables storage and transportation by cooling gaseous natural gas to below minus 160 degrees Celsius using refrigerants at room temperature to liquefy it. This technology requires precise design during the liquefaction process and is only possessed by some advanced engineering firms overseas, such as those in the United States and Australia.

Since 2018, anticipating the increase in demand and supply of eco-friendly LNG, Samsung Heavy Industries has focused on research and development based on its experience in building the world's first and largest number (3 units) of FLNGs. As a result, by using methane (CH₄) and nitrogen (N₂) as refrigerant gases and optimizing the subdivision of the expansion process and the amount of refrigerant, it developed an economically efficient independent liquefaction process within three years that reduces power consumption by up to 13% per ton of LNG produced compared to existing gas expansion liquefaction processes.

This certification has advanced Samsung Heavy Industries' technological independence in the LNG field and optimized design and procurement costs, thereby significantly enhancing the competitiveness in securing orders for LNG value chain products.

Jung Ho-hyun, Executive Vice President and Head of Technology Development at Samsung Heavy Industries, emphasized, "It is meaningful that Samsung Heavy Industries has localized LNG liquefaction process technology for the first time in the industry. By expanding the independent topside design capability, a core of offshore development facilities, from FPSO to FLNG, our position in the offshore plant market will become even stronger."

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