Publication: EMPLEO DE GAS NATURAL LICUADO COMO COMBUSTIBLE PARA REMOLCADORES
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Date
2014-07
Authors
MEZA SIGALA, EDUARDO FELIPE
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Abstract
Los principales combustibles empleados en la actividad marítima hoy en día son los
derivados del petróleo, para el caso particular de embarcaciones menores tales como los
remolcadores, se emplea el petróleo Diésel Marino o Marine Gas Oil (MGO).
La tecnología actual, ha permitido desarrollar motores a combustión interna que funcionan
en base a Gas Natural (GN), o en forma alternada entre GN y MGO. La potencia que se ha
alcanzado para estos motores permite la operación sin restricciones de remolcadores con
un alto nivel de eficiencia térmica, cumpliendo ampliamente con los estándares de
seguridad, a un menor precio para la misma cantidad de energía consumida y con menores
emisiones contaminantes al medioambiente.
El objetivo general de este trabajo, es evaluar técnica y económicamente la conveniencia de
implementar remolcadores de puerto que empleen combustible GN en vez de MGO.
Para cumplir este objetivo, en primer lugar se dan a conocer las características y
particularidades que tienen los remolcadores y sus sistemas de propulsión de manera de
establecer una base de conocimientos en esta área. Luego, se continúa con un análisis
general del mercado del Gas Natural Licuado (GNL) a nivel mundial y nacional, un análisis
de la regulación existente respecto a este combustible y su aplicación a bordo de las naves
que operan en aguas nacionales. Posteriormente se efectúa una comparación entre los
motores que emplean estos combustibles. Finalmente, se lleva a cabo una Evaluación
Económica y un Análisis de Riesgo, considerando un caso base actual con MGO y el caso en
estudio con GNL.
Los resultados obtenidos, muestran que debido a las bajas horas de operación, el costo en
combustible posee una baja relevancia en los costos operacionales del remolcador en un
año, por lo que la evaluación económica demostró estar a favor del caso base con un mayor
VAN para el periodo evaluado, gracias al menor costo de inversión que tiene la tecnología
diésel. Sin embargo, los beneficios medioambientales a favor del gas natural son claros y
superiores a los del MGO. Las normas IMO Tier II y Tier III continuarán impulsando el
empleo del GNL como la mejor alternativa entre los combustibles marinos en el futuro.
Considerando el Objetivo General planteado, respecto de la conveniencia de implementar
remolcadores de puerto que empleen combustible GNL, se puede decir que técnicamente y
ambientalmente es conveniente, pero no lo es económicamente.
La recomendación derivada de las conclusiones expuestas, es la de llevar a cabo este
proyecto en remolcadores con una mayor tasa de utilización, donde el ahorro por menor
costo variable, podría financiar el mayor costo de inversión que significa esta tecnología.
The most common fuels in use in the maritime industry for small vessels such as tugboats, are those distilled from petroleum, particularly, Marine Diesel or Marine Gas Oil (MGO). Today’s technology has allowed the development of internal combustion engines based on Natural Gas (NG), or alternating NG with MGO. The output power achieved for NG engines allows unrestricted operation of tugboats at highly level of thermal efficiency, under all safety standards, at lower cost for the same consumed energy and lower contaminant emissions levels. The general objective of this study is to perform a technical and economical assessment in order to determine, the convenience of using harbor tugs with natural gas, as main fuel instead of MGO. To fulfil this objective, the main characteristics of tugboats and their propulsion systems are presented conveniently for the better understanding of the following chapters. Afterwards, local and global market of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is reviewed in general terms and also the implications of using this fuel on board according to local and international regulations. Also, a comparison between different fuelled engines is carried out. Finally, an economic evaluation is performed along with a risk analysis considering a base line case with MGO and the case study with LNG. The results, clearly shows that the fuel cost, has a low relevance in the overall operational costs of the tugboat within a year due to low utilization rate, then, the economic evaluation favors the base case due to lower investment cost of diesel technology, resulting in greater NPV for the assessed period. However, the environmental benefits of natural gas are evident, and superior to MGO application. The IMO Tier II and Tier III regulations will push the use of LNG as the best alternative of marine fuels in the future. Regarding the General Objective stated about the convenience of having harbor tugs fuelled by LNG, it was found technically convenient, but not convenient under an economic point of view. The recommendation considering the stated conclusions, in economic terms, is to carry out this project in tugboats with a higher utilization rate, where savings due to lower operational costs could finance the higher investment cost of the LNG technology.
The most common fuels in use in the maritime industry for small vessels such as tugboats, are those distilled from petroleum, particularly, Marine Diesel or Marine Gas Oil (MGO). Today’s technology has allowed the development of internal combustion engines based on Natural Gas (NG), or alternating NG with MGO. The output power achieved for NG engines allows unrestricted operation of tugboats at highly level of thermal efficiency, under all safety standards, at lower cost for the same consumed energy and lower contaminant emissions levels. The general objective of this study is to perform a technical and economical assessment in order to determine, the convenience of using harbor tugs with natural gas, as main fuel instead of MGO. To fulfil this objective, the main characteristics of tugboats and their propulsion systems are presented conveniently for the better understanding of the following chapters. Afterwards, local and global market of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is reviewed in general terms and also the implications of using this fuel on board according to local and international regulations. Also, a comparison between different fuelled engines is carried out. Finally, an economic evaluation is performed along with a risk analysis considering a base line case with MGO and the case study with LNG. The results, clearly shows that the fuel cost, has a low relevance in the overall operational costs of the tugboat within a year due to low utilization rate, then, the economic evaluation favors the base case due to lower investment cost of diesel technology, resulting in greater NPV for the assessed period. However, the environmental benefits of natural gas are evident, and superior to MGO application. The IMO Tier II and Tier III regulations will push the use of LNG as the best alternative of marine fuels in the future. Regarding the General Objective stated about the convenience of having harbor tugs fuelled by LNG, it was found technically convenient, but not convenient under an economic point of view. The recommendation considering the stated conclusions, in economic terms, is to carry out this project in tugboats with a higher utilization rate, where savings due to lower operational costs could finance the higher investment cost of the LNG technology.
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Keywords
REMOLCADOR , MOTORES A GAS , PROPULSIÓN MARINA , GAS NATURAL , NORMAS DE CLASE , GNL