With the continuous growth of global energy demand and the rapid development of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry, the requirements for energy conservation and safety in LNG storage, transportation, and utilization systems are increasingly stringent. Against this backdrop, LNG elastic felt, as a highly efficient cryogenic insulation material, has become an indispensable insulation material in the LNG field due to its excellent thermal insulation performance, flexibility, and durability. This article will analyze the advantages and value of LNG elastic felt in cryogenic applications through several typical engineering cases.

I. Basic Characteristics of LNG Elastic Felt

LNG elastic felt typically adopts a flexible and efficient porous structure, possessing the following advantages:

1. Excellent thermal insulation performance: Its low thermal conductivity effectively prevents heat loss from cryogenic gases or liquids, reducing energy consumption.

2. Strong resistance to thermal cycling: The elastic structure can withstand thermal expansion and contraction in cryogenic environments, ensuring long-term stable insulation performance.

3. Good moisture resistance: LNG elastic felt has excellent moisture-proof properties, preventing water vapor penetration, avoiding condensation, and ensuring the integrity of the insulation layer.

4. High flexibility and easy construction: It can be cut and wrapped according to complex shapes and structures, suitable for various cryogenic equipment and pipelines.

II. Application Cases of LNG Elastic Felt in Engineering

1. Liquefied Natural Gas Storage Tank Insulation Project

In a large LNG storage tank project, liquefied natural gas needs to be kept at a low temperature during storage to ensure gas stability. LNG elastic felt was selected as the main insulation material in the project. Traditional insulation materials, due to their high thermal conductivity and large thickness, often affect equipment layout and overall efficiency when used in confined spaces.

The low thermal conductivity of LNG elastic felt effectively prevents heat loss under a relatively thin insulation layer, reducing overall energy consumption. Furthermore, the flexible design of the elastic felt allows the construction team to quickly and efficiently complete the insulation layer construction of the storage tank, while adapting to complex tank surfaces and interfaces, reducing thermal bridging caused by improper construction.

Application Results: After project completion, heat loss in the storage tank was significantly reduced, energy consumption was reduced by nearly 20%, and the service life of the LNG storage tank was effectively extended. This project has achieved significant results in energy conservation and efficient, safe storage.

2. Cryogenic Pipeline Insulation System

In a natural gas transmission project, long-distance cryogenic pipelines were constructed. Significant temperature fluctuations occurred during pipeline transportation, placing high demands on the stability of insulation materials. LNG elastic felt, due to its excellent low-temperature resistance and resistance to thermal cycling, was widely used in the pipeline insulation system of this project.

The pipeline system frequently experiences switching between cold and high temperatures. Traditional insulation materials may crack or fail due to thermal stress. The flexible structure of LNG elastic felt effectively adapts to temperature changes, maintaining continuous insulation performance, and is resistant to physical changes during high and low temperature cycles.

Application Results: After multiple thermal cycles, the insulation layer of the pipeline system in this project showed no performance degradation. By using LNG elastic felt, heat loss in the pipeline was significantly reduced, while energy utilization efficiency during transportation was improved.

3. LNG Cold Energy Recovery and Utilization System

In a cold energy recovery project at an LNG receiving terminal, LNG elastic felt was used for insulation of cold gas pipelines and cold container equipment. LNG cold energy recovery technology can recover and reuse the low-temperature cold energy generated during LNG vaporization, converting it into other energy forms to provide additional energy support for the site.

In the project, LNG elastic felt was used for insulation and isolation of cold gas pipelines, ensuring that valuable cold energy is not wasted due to heat loss during cold gas transmission. Simultaneously, the anti-condensation properties of the elastic felt demonstrated a unique advantage in humid environments, preventing condensation buildup from affecting the stable operation of the cold energy system.

Application Results: Through this cold energy recovery system, the LNG receiving terminal successfully recovered approximately 15% of its cold energy, significantly improving energy utilization efficiency, reducing dependence on external energy sources, and lowering project operating costs.

4. Insulation for LNG Transport Vessels

LNG transport vessels need to maintain the liquid state of LNG during long-term sea transport. The quality of the insulation system directly affects transportation efficiency and safety. The application of LNG elastic felt in this field demonstrates its excellent low-temperature insulation performance.

This project utilizes LNG elastic felt as the primary insulation material for LNG storage tanks and pipelines on ships. Especially under complex ship structures and constantly changing marine climate conditions, the flexible design of the elastic felt perfectly adapts to the dynamic changes of the ship, ensuring that the cryogenic state of LNG remains unaffected during transportation.

Application Results: During transportation, LNG elastic felt effectively prevents heat penetration, significantly reduces the evaporation rate of liquefied natural gas, and substantially improves transportation efficiency while lowering overall operating costs.

III. Summary of the Application Value of LNG Elastic Felt

As seen in the above engineering cases, LNG elastic felt has demonstrated excellent insulation performance and durability in multiple cryogenic engineering projects. Whether in storage tanks, pipelines, transport ships, or cold energy recovery systems, the advantages of LNG elastic felt are fully demonstrated. Its low thermal conductivity, cryogenic resistance, resistance to thermal cycling, and moisture-proof properties make it an ideal insulation material in the liquefied natural gas field.

In the future, with the development of the LNG industry and the transformation of the global energy structure, the application of LNG elastic felt in cryogenic insulation will be further deepened. Its advantages in energy saving, environmental protection, and efficiency improvement will bring value to more engineering projects.