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LNG by rail, a new market for railroads?

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, December 9, 2019 8:56 PM

Murphy Siding
caldreamer

LNG as stated in the article is at a temperature below minus 300 degrees.  Propane or other gases at atmospheric presure are at MUCH  greater risk of catching fire or exploding.

What happens if a car of LNG has a compressor go out?

I imagine it would vent through a safety valve if the pressure rises too high.

There are already a fair number of insulated tank cars running around that carry cryongenically liquified gases like argon and carbon dioxide.  If the pressures rises to high while in transit they will vent, which can lead to the odd sight of a thick layer of frost on the outside of the car on a hot summer day. 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, December 9, 2019 8:48 PM

caldreamer

LNG as stated in the article is at a temperature below minus 300 degrees.  Propane or other gases at atmospheric presure are at MUCH  greater risk of catching fire or exploding.

 

What happens if a car of LNG has a compressor go out?

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Posted by SD70Dude on Monday, December 9, 2019 8:16 PM

The railroads routinely transport far more dangerous things than liquid or gaseous fuels.  A few tank cars of chlorine or anhydrous ammonia have as much killing potential as a entire trainload of LNG/LPG/gasoline/crude oil.

CN now runs unit trains of propane (LPG) from the Edmonton area to Prince Rupert several times a week.  This service started earlier this year, after a export terminal was completed at the port of Prince Rupert.  They run as symbols U761 (loads) and U760 (empties). 

There is also a daily 'bomb train' (M314, westbound counterpart M313) from Scotford (northeast of Edmonton) to Winnipeg.  It normally has lots of LPG and anhydrous ammonia, along with all sorts of other toxic 'goodies' from Alberta's industrial heartland. 

I'm sure all the other Class I's have some trains that are normally composed mainly of dangerous goods.

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Posted by caldreamer on Monday, December 9, 2019 5:00 PM

LNG as stated in the article is at a temperature below minus 300 degrees.  Propane or other gases at atmospheric presure are at MUCH  greater risk of catching fire or exploding.

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, December 9, 2019 4:59 PM

Overmod
 
Lithonia Operator
Yikes. (What could possibly go wrong? Tongue Tied)

So I won't be called a NIMBY ... I am firmly opposed to this happening anywhere, period. 

Why?  There's far less hazard transporting this stuff than either undegassed Bakken crude or a BLEVE hazard like LPG.  Arguably less than ethanol or gasoline.

Almost zero risk of sustained immediate fire even with impact damage; pool fires get hot but it takes them a while to get there and little if any critical-mixture hazard even then.

Combine this with the great advances in cryoinsulation in the last few years.  

I have little hesitation in saying LNG is safer in a tank train than it is in OTR trailers ... where it has been legal many years.  High cost and interesting maintenance issues trying to compete with pipelines over any but short distance. 

Now, if you wanted to ban CNG transport by rail, I'd be right behind ya in the picket line.  THAT stuff is dangerous as hell in my opinion.

LNG is already being transported around the world - just not on railroads.

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Posted by Overmod on Monday, December 9, 2019 4:24 PM

Lithonia Operator
Yikes. (What could possibly go wrong? Tongue Tied)

So I won't be called a NIMBY ... I am firmly opposed to this happening anywhere, period.

Why?  There's far less hazard transporting this stuff than either undegassed Bakken crude or a BLEVE hazard like LPG.  Arguably less than ethanol or gasoline.

Almost zero risk of sustained immediate fire even with impact damage; pool fires get hot but it takes them a while to get there and little if any critical-mixture hazard even then.

Combine this with the great advances in cryoinsulation in the last few years.  

I have little hesitation in saying LNG is safer in a tank train than it is in OTR trailers ... where it has been legal many years.  High cost and interesting maintenance issues trying to compete with pipelines over any but short distance. 

Now, if you wanted to ban CNG transport by rail, I'd be right behind ya in the picket line.  THAT stuff is dangerous as hell in my opinion.

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Posted by MMLDelete on Monday, December 9, 2019 4:12 PM

Yikes. (What could possibly go wrong? Tongue Tied)

So I won't be called a NIMBY ... I am firmly opposed to this happening anywhere, period.

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LNG by rail, a new market for railroads?
Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, December 9, 2019 2:48 PM

Interesting article.    The EU as part of their trade agreement with the United States are going to dramatically increase LNG purchases from the United States.    Should be interesting to see how this developes if it does develop.......

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Trump-looks-to-open-up-railroads-for-LNG-shipments-14569387.php

 

 

 

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