The first domestically developed LNG vaporization skid, independently designed and manufactured by Sunpower, has recently been successfully delivered. Custom-developed for the project of Hunan Zijin Lithium Multi-metal New Materials Co., Ltd., the skid achieves full independent design across all stages—from process system design, equipment selection, pipeline layout, and structural design to electrical and instrumentation control systems. It marks Sunpower's first fully self-designed skid-mounted equipment and signifies a major advancement in energy-saving technology for the metallurgical industry.
Previously, traditional LNG vaporization processes primarily relied on seawater or Submerged Combustion Vaporizers (SCVs), with only limited use of ambient air vaporizers, resulting in low recovery and utilization of cold energy and substantial energy waste. The LNG vaporization skid developed by Sunpower incorporates its proprietary Independent Fluid Vaporizer (IFV) combined with high-efficiency heat transfer technology. It recovers LNG cold energy through a two-stage glycol solution heat exchange process, providing cooling support for downstream processes. A third-stage heat exchange further recovers residual cold energy using circulating water, reducing the total design flow rate of the plant’s cooling towers and saving equipment investment costs. Calculations show that the skid achieves a cold energy recovery capacity of up to 4MW, offering significant economic advantages. It is the first integrated skid-mounted equipment in China to realize efficient cold energy utilization.
The successful development of this first-of-its-kind LNG vaporization skid has provided Sunpower with valuable experience in the field of energy-efficient utilization and offers a new technical solution for energy conservation and emission reduction in the metallurgical industry. Moving forward, Sunpower will continue to deepen R&D in high-efficiency heat transfer technology, build a more comprehensive energy-saving and environmental protection technology system, and contribute technological strength to support the industrial sector in achieving the "Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutrality" goals, promoting green manufacturing and sustainable development.
