LNG Risk Analysis

Manufacture of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) utilizes both brazed plate-fin aluminum heat exchangers and spiral-wound aluminum heat exchangers. Because of the very low temperature drop in the heat exchangers, the risk of mercury condensation is pronounced in spite of the prevalent use of mercury removal systems. Risk of metal embrittlement by liquid mercury is a function of equipment design, metallurgy and frequency of events that allow equipment to warm up. The industry trend is to an increasing number LNG facilities that use a variety of newly developed process technologies. The new process designs utilize a variety of aluminum heat exchangers that require careful evaluation of risk due to mercury.



Skikda LNG 2004 Heat Exchanger Failure