Tokyo Gas Chemicals has developed an “LNG Mobile Satellite” system, which unifies a cryogenic LNG tank (capacity: 30kg) sized 40ft long of horizontal type and a pressure-free vaporizer (capacity: 400kg) of small type developed at the same time. A complete unit of the new products can be transported to the site of installation and simplifies local construction works substantially, leading to saving of the construction period.

The LNG Satellite is a system to supply LNG to the cryogenic storage tanks installed at such users as various industrial manufacturers and local town gas stations by LNG tank trucks dedicated for transportation from LNG supply bases. It is now used mainly for industrial applications.
　
It is forecast that a satellite supply system will be further diffused to the industrial field as one of the effective means to use LNG in connection with the expected full-scale import of shale gas-originated LNG from 2016. However, as a large-scale tank is required for receiving, a large-scaled construction has been naturally required on the site, needing a longer construction period and considerably higher costs. Therefore there has been a limitation of supply to only the major users of a 1,000 tons/year class. That is why Tokyo Gas Chemicals decided to develop a supply unit putting a target at medium-sized users consuming 500 to 600 tons per year. The development was being proceeded by the company jointly with the Taiyo Nippon Sanso group since the year before last, and an integrated LNG supply unit with a combination of the horizontal tank and small vaporizer was completed in October of last year. A joint application for patent has already been made domestically. An overseas application for patent is on the way in Korea. A trade name of “LNG Mobile Satellite” has already been registered for branding.　The tank is characteristic in its horizontal shape unified with a vaporizer to be transported together. The tank and vaporizer (including a governor) are containerized for a completed unit in the cryogenic storage tank fabricating plant and then transported to the user’s site by semi-trailer.

After installation the unit will become usable for operation in one week after connecting with pipes and passing the completion test. In addition, it will become easy to expand or remove in connection with a future construction to install town-gas pipe lines.

The first unit has already been contracted this year and a nationwide marketing is planned now. Particularly since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, much attention has been brought to security on energy in various fields, there is a move to discuss the installation of LNG satellites to procure an own electricity source by co-generation adopted in the regional hospitals as well as the industrial fields.

Tokyo Gas Chemicals keeps a close watch on the LNG mobile satellite also as the optimum system with view to simplicity of the consumption scale and installation.

Furthermore, the company has a plan to carry out canvassing actively to the newly emerging Asian countries with a high economic growth. The emerging countries are now proceeding with the introduction of LNG from the environmental viewpoints, but it takes quite a long time to complete the construction of pipe lines, requiring much cost and substantial developments of infrastructure. In this respect, an issue on the supply side can be well cleared by introducing the LNG Mobile Satellite, according to the Engineering Service Dept.