Cryobture

Pipeline Terminal Maintenance System

To address pipeline network shutdowns caused by leaks, Cryobture set out to develop material-based solutions for creating a cryogenic pipeline plug. These solutions were designed using coated textile materials capable of withstanding temperatures of around -160°C.

Background

To transport natural gas by LNG carrier, it must be cooled to a cryogenic temperature of around -160°C. It is then unloaded at terminals connected to a pipeline network.

In the event of a leak in these pipelines, repairs could be made by shutting off the valves upstream and downstream. This shutdown resulted in significant costs. To address this, installing inflatable rubber balloons on either side of the leak would allow for rapid intervention without having to close the valves. However, no balloons existed that could withstand such high temperatures.

Project success

The Cryobture project, coordinated by Dunkerque LNG and EuraMaterials, has led to the development of a tank that enables rapid maintenance, thereby preventing supply interruptions at terminals.

This new method is three times cheaper and more secure.

Partners

• Dunkirk LNG
• EuraMaterials
• CLUBTEX
• Delannoy Brothers
• Imattec
• Innocold Institute of Technology
• Lenzing Plastics
• Pronal

Identification Card

Project type: Interministerial Single Fund (FUI)

Start date: October 1, 2015

Duration: 3 years