France’s GTT, the world’s largest LNG tank maker, says it has upgraded its NO96 cargo containment system to further slash the guaranteed boil-off gas rate.
The NO96 Super+ has recently received approval in principle from the classification society Bureau Veritas.
“The new technology integrates insulating reinforced polyurethane foam (R-PUF) panels instead of plywood boxes, used for both the primary and secondary insulation spaces, to reduce the heat ingress inside the tank,” GTT said.
In addition, the new system has glass wool flat joints between adjacent foam panels to optimize the behavior of the system and ensure its best thermal performance, according to the firm.
NO96 Super+ maintains the main features of the NO96 technology, in particular the principle of double invar metallic membranes and the mechanical anchors fixing the insulating panels to the inner hull.
With this innovation, GTT reduces once again the evaporation of the cargo during operations, it said.
NO96 Super+ offers a guaranteed boil-off rate of 0,085%V/d for the current standard size design of LNG carrier of 174,000 cbm, GTT said.
Moreover, for larger capacities such as 200,000 cbm, the system achieves further reductions down to 0,08%V/d due to scale effects, it said.
GTT said it has completed the first mock-up of the new technology in February.
The firm expects final class approval by mid-2021.
“With the introduction of NO96 Super+ technology, GTT demonstrates its ability to continuously innovate and upgrade its technologies to meet our customers’ requirements,” GTT’s chief executive Philippe Berterottière, said.
“Reducing the boil-off rate is key to the industry at a time when shipowners and shipyards face increasing economic and regulatory challenges,” he said.
