Advantages of Production and Operation of Innovational Storage Systems in Multimodal LNG-Transportation

Abstract The world gas consumption, as well as the needs in its transportation are growing constantly nowadays. Gas transportation in a liquid form has become a strong competitor for traditional pipelines. LNG can be transported by different transport means by sea, rivers, roads, railway. Tank-containers allow to transport LNG without its reloading into other tanks due to universal container construction. Traditional tank-containers are heavy, have limited lifespan and not sufficient durability. The innovational membrane tank-containers made of aluminum alloy with low scandium content solve the majority of the aforementioned technical problems. They provide the highest level of safety for dangerous cargo transportation, longer operation period and lower weight of the construction. The last two parameters influence positively the economic efficiency of using innovational tank-containers in multimodal LNG-transportation. The research compared the traditional steel and innovational aluminum-scandium tank-containers used in automobile and railway LNG-transportation. The innovational ones are more perspective for investment due to lower operational costs and lower depreciation rates. As an option the manufacturing could be also organized at shipbuilding yards, which are familiar with the technology of LNG-tankers construction. It allows to start new production without significant initial investments, to broaden the market and to increase the level of capacity usage.