Abstract: According to different shipping schedules, three dynamic calculation models of tank capacity required for uniform shipping schedule, semi-uniform shipping schedule and adjustable shipping schedule are established after taking the influence of seasonal and daily peak shaving and safety margin into consideration. Three models have been applied to calculate the required tank capacity for one LNG terminal. After comparing the results, it is obtained that the tank capacity required for uniform shipping schedule model which has the smallest degree of freedom in scheduling is the largest; the tank capacity required for free shipping schedule model which has the highest degree of freedom in scheduling is the smallest and the tank capacity required for semi-uniform shipping schedule model which has the moderate degree of freedom in scheduling is moderate. Therefore, it is recommended that each LNG terminal should arrange the shipping schedule reasonably according to the actual purchase plan and try to achieve independent shipping schedule operation model so as to reduce the number of storage tanks to be built and save investment.

Key words: dynamic tank capacity, uniform shipping schedule, semi-uniform shipping schedule, independent shipping schedule