Maritime Transport Industry Acclaimes Air Liquide’s Turbo-Brayton Solution

February 25, 2020 | Maritime | Energy Facts Staff Writer | 3min

Air Liquide is continuing to develop sales of its Turbo-Brayton cryogenic equipment, with around 50 units sold over the last two years for a total value of almost 180 million euros. This innovative solution, which was developed for the maritime transport industry and avoids greenhouse gas emissions, is acclaimed by customers and sales are growing strongly.

The technology, developed by Air Liquide and based on the Turbo-Brayton principle, reliquefies LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) boil-off on vessels transporting that product, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions during transportation. Thanks to this technology, Air Liquide is helping its customers to reduce their environmental impact. Indeed, the approximately 50 Turbo-Brayton cryogenic units sold have the potential to avoid more than 240,000 tons of CO2-equivalent emissions per year. This equipment is designed to be installed on LNG carriers, both on newly built ships and for retrofitting existing vessels.

This Air Liquide technology was first used in the space industry to cryogenically preserve biological samples on the International Space Station (ISS), before being adapted for the maritime transport industry. It can also be applied to biomethane. For example, it is used to liquefy biomethane generated through the anaerobic digestion of household and agricultural waste. In liquid form, the biomethane can be transported easily to its point of use, as a fuel in NGV stations (Natural Gas for Vehicles) or in ferry terminals. Air Liquide has sold two such units in the Nordics.

Emilie Mouren-Renouard, Member of Air Liquide’s Executive Committee in charge of Innovation, Digital & IT, Intellectual Property and the Global Markets & Technologies WBU, said: This commercial success illustrates the Group’s capacity to support its customers by developing efficient solutions that help them lower the environmental impact of their activities. Air Liquide has long been innovating for a low-carbon society. Our Climate Objectives are now the most ambitious in our sector and these new technologies, which are acclaimed by our customers, contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.