The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), under the Ministry of Science and ICT (President Park Sang-jin), has established a research foundation for the localization of comprehensive LNG and cryogenic equipment for the first time in Korea. A green light has been given for the localization of LNG and cryogenic-related equipment.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials announced on the 22nd that it recently completed the construction of a comprehensive LNG and cryogenic equipment performance evaluation system within the LNG and Cryogenic Machinery Technology Testing and Certification Center (hereinafter the LNG and Cryogenic Center) in March.

It is the first time in Korea that a performance evaluation system for the entire cryogenic chiller system, from pumps and valves to heat exchangers, compressors, and chillers, has been established.

The LNG and cryogenic equipment performance evaluation system is an experimental facility capable of evaluating the performance and reliability of various equipment related to LNG and cryogenics.

The research team has established efficient and systematic testing procedures and ensured the soundness and reliability of experimental results, and is expanding its international accreditation as a testing laboratory, starting with obtaining accreditation as an LNG and cryogenic pump testing laboratory from the Korea Accreditation Organization (KOLAS) in 2016.

In addition, we plan to pursue registration as an accreditation body of the Korean Register of Shipping by the end of this year.

Performance evaluation facilities for LNG and cryogenic equipment must handle flammable fluids at temperatures below -153°C; as such facilities entail potential risks, strict compliance with safety regulations and stable operation of the testing facilities are essential.

Accordingly, the research team is conducting performance evaluation experiments in compliance with strict safety regulations, such as the Korean High Pressure Gas Safety Management Act (KGS) and the Occupational Safety and Health Management (PSM) Act.

By utilizing the newly established research facility, it is possible to conduct performance and reliability tests on various LNG and cryogenic equipment developed by domestic industry, academia, and research institutes.

This is expected to enable the rapid securing of optimal and commercialization technologies. Such LNG and cryogenic equipment is utilized in various fields, including shipbuilding, marine engineering, onshore plants, energy and power transmission, military, and space.

In addition, it provides technical support in the fields of LNG and cryogenic equipment and systems to domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and middle-sized companies in need of assistance.

Domestic companies can obtain international accreditation (KOLAS) by utilizing LNG and cryogenic research facilities with technical support from expert researchers.

Using the testing facilities for LNG and cryogenic pumps, valves, and heat exchangers established so far, domestic companies received support for about 40 testing inspections from 2018 to 2020.

The research team expects that the establishment of this research infrastructure will be of great help to domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-sized companies in the LNG and cryogenic sectors, which have struggled with a shortage of specialized research personnel and difficulties in securing experimental facilities, in localizing technology and securing industrial competitiveness.

In addition, it is expected that this will prevent technology leakage that occurs when domestic companies obtain certification from overseas specialized institutions for products they have researched and developed, and will also reduce the time and budget required for the overseas certification process.

"This achievement is significant in that it can serve as a cornerstone for the growth of Korea's cryogenic technology," said Principal Researcher Lee Geun-tae. "We will continue to cooperate with relevant industries, academia, and research institutes to contribute to the self-reliance of domestic cryogenic technology and, furthermore, to the development of national industries and the discovery of new growth engines."

Meanwhile, this research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT's project 'Supplementary Establishment of LNG and Cryogenic Machinery Technology Testing and Certification Facilities'.