Samsung Heavy Industries Independently Develops Gas Recovery System for LNG-Powered Ships

Successful Demonstration of LNG Cold Energy Re-liquefaction System
Reduction in Fuel Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Successful Demonstration of the Boil-off Gas Recovery System (BReS). Photo by Samsung Heavy Industries

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] Samsung Heavy Industries announced on the 20th that it has successfully demonstrated the LNG propulsion ship boil-off gas recovery system (Boil-off gas Recovery System·BReS) independently developed and obtained a Statement of Fact from the American ABS classification society.

BReS is a system that re-liquefies and recovers boil-off gas naturally vaporized inside the fuel tank of LNG propulsion ships, whose orders are increasing due to strengthened environmental regulations. It is a new technology that can reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of LNG propulsion ships.

In the case of existing systems installed on LNG propulsion ships, high-pressure compressors necessary to convert boil-off gas into fuel are monopolized by overseas makers, resulting in long procurement periods and high costs. Excess boil-off gas must be forcibly combusted, generating carbon dioxide.

BReS uses heat exchange technology utilizing the cold energy of LNG supplied to the engine instead of a high-pressure compressor, liquefying the boil-off gas to reduce initial investment costs. It can re-liquefy excess boil-off gas, thereby zeroing carbon dioxide emissions caused by forced combustion.

When BReS is installed on container ships operating between Europe and Asia, it is analyzed that about 30 tons of LNG fuel and 60 tons of carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced per voyage. The 60 tons of carbon dioxide is equivalent to the emissions generated by 500 passenger cars making a round trip between Seoul and Busan.

Park Geonil, Technical Advisor at Samsung Heavy Industries' Eco-friendly Research Center, said, "With the strengthening of IMO environmental regulations, the development of new technologies for carbon neutrality in the shipbuilding and shipping industry is urgent," and emphasized, "Samsung Heavy Industries will continue to lead the market by developing various eco-friendly technologies and products, not only LNG."

Samsung Heavy Industries has completed 15 demonstration tests including BReS using the LNG demonstration facility completed in May 2021.

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