Recently, the first-of-its-kind modular SCV (Submerged Combustion Vaporizer) unit for FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Units), independently developed by Jiang Su Sunpower Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Sunpower Tech Group, was successfully delivered and has obtained classification society certification. This marks the first time a shipboard SCV has been engineered and applied in offshore marine environments in China, representing a significant breakthrough in the field of high-end LNG marine engineering equipment.
Currently, most FSRU regasification technologies rely on seawater or boiler-heated water as heat sources-approaches that face challenges such as limited usability in cold seawater conditions, low thermal efficiency, and restricted vaporization capacity. To address these industry pain points and technical bottlenecks, a dedicated R&D team formed by Jiang Su Sunpower Technology and Sunpower Research Institute launched targeted innovation initiatives.
To overcome operational instability caused by hull motion in harsh marine conditions, the team conducted precise fluid dynamics simulations and innovatively designed a specialized anti-sloshing structure, effectively eliminating pressure fluctuations in the burner system. Simultaneously, they broke through structural steel design barriers under marine conditions, developing a robust structural solution capable of withstanding offshore vibrations and dynamic loads.
Leveraging its expertise in advanced heat transfer technology, JiangSu Sunpower Technology developed a highly efficient tube bundle structure achieving a heat transfer efficiency of no less than 98%. The company also engineered a 14MW low-NOx marine combustion system, enabling single-unit LNG vaporization capacity exceeding 50 tons per hour. Critically, the system ensures NOx emissions in flue gas meet-and surpass-international maritime environmental standards.
In addition, the team introduced an innovative SCV bath tank design featuring anti-sloshing structures tailored for both towing and in-position offshore operations, effectively resisting impact and load variations under extreme conditions. Through modular and lightweight integrated design, the total equipment weight was successfully reduced to under 100 tons-meeting strict space and weight requirements typical of marine installations.
This successful application of SCV technology in the marine sector not only resolves longstanding issues of low thermal efficiency and high energy consumption associated with traditional heating methods, but also demonstrates how modular, skid-mounted, and lightweight design principles can meet the stringent spatial and structural demands of shipboard systems. It lays a solid foundation for stable and efficient operation in complex offshore environments.
Since developing China’s first domestically produced LNG vaporizer in 2015-breaking foreign technological monopolies-Jiang Su Sunpower Technology has remained committed to building a self-reliant, high-end energy equipment industrial chain through continuous innovation. The delivery of this first modular shipboard SCV represents a major milestone in the company’s heavy marine module business, signifying its expansion into the high-end marine engineering equipment market.
Looking ahead, Jiang Su Sunpower Technology will further strengthen R&D efforts and application exploration in this domain, supporting the domestication and global advancement of core marine engineering equipment.
