Case Study on Optimization of Send-out Operation in Liquefied Natural Gas Receiving Terminal

Recently, LNG receiving terminals have been widely constructed and expanded for an increase in LNG demand. Selection of the storage tank for send-out and estimation of send-out flow rate have significant influence to process operation and economics. In this study, a send-out flow rate of each storage tank is optimized in order to minimize the total BOG generation rate. Considering a size and characteristic of each storage tanks, BOG flow rates are estimated using a dynamic simulation with varying liquid levels in the tanks. The regression model is developed fitting BOG flow rates and tank liquid levels, which are boil off rate model to predict BOG flow rates with particular level data. The objective function and constraints including required total send-out flow rate and level limit in the tanks are formulated to optimize a send-out flow rate of each tank. This method for optimization of send-out operation is applied to the Incheon LNG receiving terminal considering two scenarios for various liquid levels and maximum and minimum required send-out flow rates. For maximum required send-out flow rate, this method achieves BOG reduction of 9% comparing with assumed conventional operation.