Components in line: fuel and air inlets -> combustion blower -> burner and combustion chamber (IG generator fired by marine diesel or gas) -> inert gas cooler/quench water -> scrubber/sea-water wash tower -> demister (moisture eliminator) -> chiller/refrigeration inert gas cooler (dryer) -> activated carbon / final polishing filter -> inert gas discharge blower -> distribution header -> tank purge / vent lines to cargo tanks. A gas sampling analyser (continuous O2, CO2, dew point) on the discharge with automatic overboard diversion, and a deck water seal at the inlet to the tanks.

The inert gas generator produces inert gas for gas-carrier tanks by burning fuel with a controlled quantity of air so that the oxygen in the air is fully consumed. The principal products are nitrogen and carbon dioxide with water vapour. Air from a blower is drawn through a burner and combusted in a pressurised combustion chamber; complete combustion leaves essentially no free oxygen. The hot gas then passes to a scrubber/cooler where sea water cools it and washes out soot, sulphur compounds and soluble gases, reducing temperature to near ambient. A demister removes water droplets. The gas then passes through a refrigeration chiller which dries it to a very low dew point so that no free water or ice can form in the cold tanks. After final polishing it is delivered by a discharge blower to a distribution header, through a deck water seal and dry lines to the inerting/purging/pressurising connections of each tank. Continuous O2 and dew-point analysis ensures the gas stays within specification (typically very low oxygen for gas carrier inerting); if it is off-spec it is automatically dumped overboard.

The chiller cools the inert gas so that water vapour condenses out, producing dry gas of a controlled low dew point. This prevents water, ice or hydrates forming in the cargo tanks - which would block valves, cause corrosion or contaminate the cargo - and ensures the tank atmosphere remains dry and of specified quality.