Transporting Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a major challenge because it must be done at cryogenic temperatures.
Any ship which loads liquid cargo in bulk must have a proper loading arrangement, some use flexible rubber hoses or reinforced composite hoses; however, some terminals have loading arms for chemicals and clean products.
The main reason for using loading arms is their flexibility in accommodating any movement of the vessel during loading or discharging.
A key part in the design of the loading arm is the swivel joint which makes the loading arm flexible. The swivel joints are made of stainless steel, the dynamic seals used are made of polymers, large-diameter seals are used at the joints and connections.
LNG is transported at close to atmospheric pressure chilled to -260oF. At this temperature, the gas becomes a liquid making it far more cost-effective to move. The downside of this is that the seals are very susceptible to failure due to the extreme environment.
Cryogenic sealing involving liquid nitrogen can be quite challenging, but certainly not impossible thanks to materials such as PCTFE that offer good thermal stability, good chemical resistance, very good physical properties.
One of the major challenges is the fact that cryogenic liquids are poor lubricators. Because of the risk of freezing and causing the system to lock up and experience catastrophic damage.
How do the PCTFE cryogenic seals overcome these challenges?
To find out how we can help your latest project please contact info@fluorocarbon.co.uk.
At Fluorocarbon, we supply critical components used in sophisticated chip-processing equipment to Semicon OEM’s across the world.
The objective of a rotary shaft seal is to prevent the leakage of oil, grease, and other fluids while also keeping environmental contaminants out. Nowhere is this more important than in the mining industry where vehicles and equipment are generally sealing oil but exposed to the environment.
The Wind Energy Industry continues to find new ways to increase the lifetime and reliability of wind turbines. As wind energy moves to larger, lighter-weight turbines located in harsh and remote locations, service life and reliability have grown increasingly more important.
Seals allow a mechanical assembly to both function freely whilst also retaining fluid, so a material that is flexible enough to assist with fluid retention and strong enough to withstand the wear load of the mating parts is essential.
The difference between PTFE and PCTFE is mainly in the chemical structure. The addition of one Chlorine atom in place of one Fluorine atom leads to a massive change in its properties and application.
Fluorocarbon are pleased to announce, we now have a larger capacity space for Machined components and Seals. Offering a comprehensive range of high performance plastic machining capabilities ranging from PTFE, PEEK, PFA, FEP and Nylons, to Ferrous and Non-Ferrous metals and other specialist materials.
Fluorocarbon’s Fluorinoid® PTFE materials are renowned for their chemical inertness to almost all known industrial chemicals and are suitable for continuous temperatures of up to 260ºC dependent on pressure. Limitations for use are restricted to the molten alkali materials, fluorine and strong fluorinating agents.
Extrusion Gaps and Anti Extrusion RingsAt Fluorocarbon we are dedicated to the specification and manufacture of high-performance seals and bearings to suit your application requirements.
What is HPHT? (High Pressure, High Temperature)HPHT or High Pressure, High Temperature is defined as those Wells with a bottom hole temperature greater than 150°C (300°F) and requiring pressure control…
Fluorocarbon is a global supplier of high-performance fluid handling products such as seals and hoses, designed to meet the demanding applications of aerospace, automotive, energy, medical, and pharmaceutical (amongst others).
High-Performance Plastic, High-Temperature Plastic, High-Performance Thermoplastic, High-Performance Polymer…However you refer to this range of materials, what makes them different to other types of plastic?
PCTFE was discovered in 1934 by Fritz Schloffer and Otto Scherer who worked at IG Farben.