Air Products supply Petronas LNG complex

Air Products will provide its advanced main cryogenic heat exchanger (MCHE) technology for the Petronas LNG Complex in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The replacements are part of an extension program being implemented to extend the life of the MLNG Dua LNG facility in Bintulu. This will be the second and third MCHE replacements provided by Air Products at this facility, after the original units completed almost three decades of reliable service, the company said. The first MCHE replacement was installed in June 2022 in-house by Petronas and successfully started up in the fall of 2022 and operating reliably ever since.

Air Products’ contract supply to Petronas will consist of MCHE engineering and design, two units of two-bundle MCHEs, continued use of the company’s proprietary AP-C3MRTM LNG process technology with associated process licenses, and technical advisory services. All engineering and design will be done in Air Products’ global corporate headquarters office in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the MCHEs manufacture will be executed at Air Products’ manufacturing facility located on the west coast of Florida, less than a mile from the deep-water port at Port Manatee.

Air Products opened its Port Manatee facility in January 2014 and completed a 60% expansion in October 2019, and in July 2023 announced a significant investment to increase winding capacity to meet the needs of the ever-growing LNG industry. In October 2018, a new LNG equipment test facility (ETF) was dedicated. (Image Air Products)

Air Products opened its Port Manatee facility in January 2014 and completed a 60% expansion in October 2019, and in July 2023 announced a significant investment to increase winding capacity to meet the needs of the ever-growing LNG industry. In October 2018, a new LNG equipment test facility (ETF) was dedicated.

Typically, an LNG heat exchanger can be as large as over 15 feet (5 meters) in diameter and 180 feet (55 meters) long. A finished unit can weigh as much as 500 tons. 

Air Products said the majority of total worldwide LNG is produced with Air Products’ technology.