Comparison of two schemes for district cooling system utilizing cold energy of liquefied natural gas

Two schemes（scheme Ⅰ and scheme Ⅱ）for designing a district cooling system（DCS）utilizing cold energy of liquefied natural gas（LNG）are presented.In scheme Ⅰ,LNG cold energy is used to produce ice,and then ice is transported to the central cooling plant of the DCS.In scheme Ⅱ,return water from the DCS is directly chilled by LNG cold energy,and the chilled water is then sent back to the central plant.The heat transportation loss is the main negative impact in the DCS and is emphatically analyzed when evaluating the efficiency of each scheme.The results show that the DCS utilizing LNG cold energy is feasible and valuable.The cooling supply distance of scheme Ⅱ is limited within 13 km while scheme Ⅰ has no distance limit.When the distance is between 6 and 13 km,scheme Ⅱ is more practical and effective.Contrarily,scheme Ⅰ has a better economic performance when the distance is shorter than 6 km or longer than 13 km.

Integration of Low-level Waste Heat Recovery and Liquefied Nature Gas Cold Energy Utilization

Two novel thermal cycles based on Brayton cycle and Rankine cycle are proposed, respectively, which integrate the recovery of low-level waste heat and Liquefied Nature Gas （LNG） cold energy utilization for power generation. Cascade utilization of energy is realized in the two thermal cycles, where low-level waste heat,low-temperature exergy and pressure exergy of LNG are utilized efficiently through the system synthesis. The simulations are carried out using the commercial Aspen Plus 10.2, and the results are analyzed. Compared with the conventional Brayton cycle and Rankine cycle, the two novel cycles bring 60.94% and 60% in exergy efficiency, respectively and 53.08% and 52.31% in thermal efficiency, respectively.

A Novel Process for Natural Gas Liquids Recovery from Oil Field Associated Gas with Liquefied Natural Gas Cryogenic Energy Utilization

A novel process to recovery natural gas liquids from oil field associated gas with liquefied natural gas (LNG)cryogenic energy utilization is proposed.Compared to the current electric refrigeration process,the proposed process uses the cryogenic energy of LNG and saves 62.6%of electricity.The proposed process recovers ethane, liquid petroleum gas(propane and butane)and heavier hydrocarbons,with total recovery rate of natural gas liquids up to 96.8%.In this paper,exergy analysis and the energy utilization diagram method(EUD)are used to assess the new process and identify the key operation units with large exergy loss.The results show that exergy efficiency of the new process is 44.3%.Compared to the electric refrigeration process,exergy efficiency of the new process is improved by 16%.The proposed process has been applied and implemented in a conceptual design scheme of the cryogenic energy utilization for a 300 million tons/yr LNG receiving terminal in a northern Chinese harbor.

Guangdong Dapeng LNG cold energy utilization-C_2++ extraction process integration

This paper makes a study of some technical and engineering aspects by using C2 ＋ hydrocarbon separation facility at Guangdong Dapeng liquefied natural gas （GDLNG） terminal. In the C2＋ hydrocarbon extraction process, the cold energy contained in LNG will be utilized. In order to ensure the optimum operating conditions of the temlinal and C2 ＋ hydrocarbon extraction facility by optimizing the current operating processes of the terminal, the C2 ＋ hydrocarbon extraction facility construction plan is proposed. We conducted numerous calculations and simulations using such specific analysis software as PRO II 〈 version 7.0 〉. Additionally available flow data are used to verify the cyclic send-out rates from the terminal, thus establishing the current and future projected load factors. This study is intended to make sure that GDLNG can continue to supply gas via the pipeline system safely without interruptions and most significantly solves the effects of flow fluctuations at the terminal gasification send-out facility on the hydrocarbons extraction, ensuring optimum pipeline operations and ensuring safe and effective means for such C2＋ hydrocarbons extraction process as well. At the same time, the terminal is also in the optimum operation condition. This is very significant to the terminal safety operation and the energy conservation and emission reduction.

Thermodynamic design of a cascade refrigeration system of liquefied natural gas by applying mixed integer non-linear programming

Liquefied natural gas(LNG) is the most economical way of transporting natural gas(NG) over long distances. Liquefaction of NG using vapor compression refrigeration system requires high operating and capital cost. Due to lack of systematic design methods for multistage refrigeration cycles, conventional approaches to determine optimal cycle are largely trial-and-error. In this paper a novel mixed integer non-linear programming(MINLP)model is introduced to select optimal synthesis of refrigeration systems to reduce both operating and capital costs of an LNG plant. Better conceptual understanding of design improvement is illustrated on composite curve(CC) and exergetic grand composite curve(EGCC) of pinch analysis diagrams. In this method a superstructure representation of complex refrigeration system is developed to select and optimize key decision variables in refrigeration cycles(i.e. partition temperature, compression configuration, refrigeration features, refrigerant flow rate and economic trade-off). Based on this method a program(LNG-Pro) is developed which integrates VBA,Refprop and Excel MINLP Solver to automate the methodology. Design procedure is applied on a sample LNG plant to illustrate advantages of using this method which shows a 3.3% reduction in total shaft work consumption.

The Never Ending Cold War Over Energy and the Cyprus Issue

Within the context of a never ended Cold War in the energy field, the discoveries of natural gas resources in the Southern Eastern Mediterranean definitely create new impetus for the resolution of the longstanding Cyprus issues. After the failure of the last negotiations talks in July 2017, there is common strategic reason that calls for a mutually accepted resolution among all the parties involved. The situation calls to put aside national feelings and the burden of history and move forward. What is of crucial importance is not only the maintenance of international peace and regional stability but also the enhancement of the welfare of the people of this turbulent region. Whether the path of reason will be followed is remained to be seen.

Performance Research of a Micro-CCHP System with Adsorption Chiller

This paper describes a new micro-combined cooling, heating and power （CCHP） system, which is especially suitable for domestic and light commercial applications. It mainly consists of a natural gas-fired internal combustion engine, a silica gel-water adsorption chiller and other heat recovery units. In order to study the energy efficiency and economic feasibility, an experimental investigation has been carried out. The experimental system has a rated electricity power of 12 kW, a rated cooling capacity of 9 kW and a rated heating capacity of 28 kW. Evaluation and analysis of the system are discussed in detail. The testing results show that the energy efficiency of the overall system depends on different modes. The overall thermal and electrical efficiency is over 70%. Higher heat load supplied causes higher efficiency of the system. Economic evaluation shows that the micro-CCHP system enjoys a small capital cost and short payback period, which is easily accepted by customers. At current natural gas price of 1.9 RMB/m^3 （nominal condition） and electric price of 0.754 RMB/（kW.h）, the total capital cost is only 90 000 RMB with a payback period of 3.21 years.