IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v254y2022ipas0360544222013007.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Feasibility study of a combined system of electricity generation and cooling from liquefied natural gas to reduce the electricity cost of data centres

Author

Listed:
  • Sermsuk, Maytungkorn
  • Sukjai, Yanin
  • Wiboonrat, Montri
  • Kiatkittipong, Kunlanan

Abstract

Global data centre power demands would expand from 286 TWh in 2016 to around 321 TWh in 2030. The cooling system represents electricity consumption of approximately 40–50% of the total energy used. The global LNG trade has reached 356.1 MTPA. Cold energy equal to 89025 GW is released into the ocean. Therefore, this study focused on the technical and economic feasibility of an LNG receiving terminal combined with a data centre using a direct expansion cycle (DEC), a Rankine cycle (RC) and a combination of Rankine cycle and direct expansion cycle (RC + DEC) under different natural gas distribution pressures to produce a supply of cooling water and electricity to reduce electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the study, the RC + DEC produces the maximum cold water at 7 °C, with the total cold energy of 44.23 MW which is sufficient for cooling a data centre with a capacity of 5345 racks, to reduce the electricity for conventional cooling system is 13521 kWh and generated electricity form turbine is 9968 kWh. This research has the potential to reduce the operating costs of data centres by more than USD 23.87 million per annum as well as CO2 emissions by 83859 t per annum with exergy efficiency of 78.94%. In an economic study, indicated a payback period of 1.60 years with an IRR of 62%.

Suggested Citation

  • Sermsuk, Maytungkorn & Sukjai, Yanin & Wiboonrat, Montri & Kiatkittipong, Kunlanan, 2022. "Feasibility study of a combined system of electricity generation and cooling from liquefied natural gas to reduce the electricity cost of data centres," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:254:y:2022:i:pa:s0360544222013007
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2022.124397
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544222013007
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2022.124397?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Khan, Mohd Shariq & Lee, Moonyong, 2013. "Design optimization of single mixed refrigerant natural gas liquefaction process using the particle swarm paradigm with nonlinear constraints," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 146-155.
    2. He, Tianbiao & Chong, Zheng Rong & Zheng, Junjie & Ju, Yonglin & Linga, Praveen, 2019. "LNG cold energy utilization: Prospects and challenges," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 557-568.
    3. Han, Zongwei & Wei, Haotian & Sun, Xiaoqing & Bai, Chenguang & Xue, Da & Li, Xiuming, 2020. "Study on influence of operating parameters of data center air conditioning system based on the concept of on-demand cooling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 99-111.
    4. Oró, Eduard & Depoorter, Victor & Garcia, Albert & Salom, Jaume, 2015. "Energy efficiency and renewable energy integration in data centres. Strategies and modelling review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 429-445.
    5. Maurizio Santin & Damiana Chinese & Onorio Saro & Alessandra De Angelis & Alberto Zugliano, 2019. "Carbon and Water Footprint of Energy Saving Options for the Air Conditioning of Electric Cabins at Industrial Sites," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-22, September.
    6. Alice Mugnini & Gianluca Coccia & Fabio Polonara & Alessia Arteconi, 2019. "Potential of District Cooling Systems: A Case Study on Recovering Cold Energy from Liquefied Natural Gas Vaporization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-13, August.
    7. Romero Gómez, M. & Ferreiro Garcia, R. & Romero Gómez, J. & Carbia Carril, J., 2014. "Review of thermal cycles exploiting the exergy of liquefied natural gas in the regasification process," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 781-795.
    8. Sun, Zhixin & Lai, Jianpeng & Wang, Shujia & Wang, Tielong, 2018. "Thermodynamic optimization and comparative study of different ORC configurations utilizing the exergies of LNG and low grade heat of different temperatures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 688-700.
    9. Maria Avgerinou & Paolo Bertoldi & Luca Castellazzi, 2017. "Trends in Data Centre Energy Consumption under the European Code of Conduct for Data Centre Energy Efficiency," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, September.
    10. Koot, Martijn & Wijnhoven, Fons, 2021. "Usage impact on data center electricity needs: A system dynamic forecasting model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    11. Choi, In-Hwan & Lee, Sangick & Seo, Yutaek & Chang, Daejun, 2013. "Analysis and optimization of cascade Rankine cycle for liquefied natural gas cold energy recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 179-195.
    12. Kumar, Satish & Kwon, Hyouk-Tae & Choi, Kwang-Ho & Hyun Cho, Jae & Lim, Wonsub & Moon, Il, 2011. "Current status and future projections of LNG demand and supplies: A global prospective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 4097-4104, July.
    13. Dereje S. Ayou & Valerie Eveloy, 2020. "Integration of Municipal Air-Conditioning, Power, and Gas Supplies Using an LNG Cold Exergy-Assisted Kalina Cycle System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-31, September.
    14. Maytungkorn Sermsuk & Yanin Sukjai & Montri Wiboonrat & Kunlanan Kiatkittipong, 2021. "Utilising Cold Energy from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Reduce the Electricity Cost of Data Centres," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, October.
    15. Siriwardana, Jayantha & Jayasekara, Saliya & Halgamuge, Saman K., 2013. "Potential of air-side economizers for data center cooling: A case study for key Australian cities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 207-219.
    16. Randeep Agarwal & Thomas J. Rainey & S. M. Ashrafur Rahman & Ted Steinberg & Robert K. Perrons & Richard J. Brown, 2017. "LNG Regasification Terminals: The Role of Geography and Meteorology on Technology Choices," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-19, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Katebah, Mary A. & Hussein, Mohamed M. & Al-musleh, Easa I. & Almomani, Fares, 2023. "A systematic optimization approach of an actual LNG plant: Power savings and enhanced process economy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    2. Zhang, Hainan & Tian, Yaling & Tian, Changqing & Zhai, Zhiqiang, 2023. "Effect of key structure and working condition parameters on a compact flat-evaporator loop heat pipe for chip cooling of data centers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    3. Han, Ouzhu & Ding, Tao & Mu, Chenggang & Jia, Wenhao & Ma, Zhoujun, 2023. "Waste heat reutilization and integrated demand response for decentralized optimization of data centers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).
    4. Yadav, Sandeep & Seethamraju, Srinivas & Banerjee, Rangan, 2023. "Cold energy recovery from liquefied natural gas regasification process for data centre cooling and power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    5. Xiao, Jiang-Wen & Yang, Yan-Bing & Cui, Shichang & Wang, Yan-Wu, 2023. "Cooperative online schedule of interconnected data center microgrids with shared energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 285(C).
    6. Chen, Boyu & Che, Yanbo & Zheng, Zhihao & Zhao, Shuaijun, 2023. "Multi-objective robust optimal bidding strategy for a data center operator based on bi-level optimization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maytungkorn Sermsuk & Yanin Sukjai & Montri Wiboonrat & Kunlanan Kiatkittipong, 2021. "Utilising Cold Energy from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to Reduce the Electricity Cost of Data Centres," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Fang, Zhenhua & Pan, Zhen & Ma, Guiyang & Yu, Jingxian & Shang, Liyan & Zhang, Zhien, 2023. "Exergoeconomic, exergoenvironmental analysis and multi-objective optimization of a novel combined cooling, heating and power system for liquefied natural gas cold energy recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    3. Zheng, Siyang & Li, Chenghao & Zeng, Zhiyong, 2022. "Thermo-economic analysis, working fluids selection, and cost projection of a precooler-integrated dual-stage combined cycle (PIDSCC) system utilizing cold exergy of liquefied natural gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    4. Tian, Zhen & Qi, Zhixin & Gan, Wanlong & Tian, Molin & Gao, Wenzhong, 2022. "A novel negative carbon-emission, cooling, and power generation system based on combined LNG regasification and waste heat recovery: Energy, exergy, economic, environmental (4E) evaluations," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    5. Choi, Hong Wone & Na, Sun-Ik & Hong, Sung Bin & Chung, Yoong & Kim, Dong Kyu & Kim, Min Soo, 2021. "Optimal design of organic Rankine cycle recovering LNG cold energy with finite heat exchanger size," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 217(C).
    6. Qi, Meng & Park, Jinwoo & Kim, Jeongdong & Lee, Inkyu & Moon, Il, 2020. "Advanced integration of LNG regasification power plant with liquid air energy storage: Enhancements in flexibility, safety, and power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    7. He, Tianbiao & Chong, Zheng Rong & Zheng, Junjie & Ju, Yonglin & Linga, Praveen, 2019. "LNG cold energy utilization: Prospects and challenges," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 557-568.
    8. Joy, Jubil & Kochunni, Sarun Kumar & Chowdhury, Kanchan, 2022. "Size reduction and enhanced power generation in ORC by vaporizing LNG at high supercritical pressure irrespective of delivery pressure," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    9. Han, Hui & Wang, Zihua & Wang, Cheng & Deng, Gonglin & Song, Chao & Jiang, Jie & Wang, Shaowei, 2019. "The study of a novel two-stage combined rankine cycle utilizing cold energy of liquefied natural gas," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    10. Kanbur, Baris Burak & Xiang, Liming & Dubey, Swapnil & Choo, Fook Hoong & Duan, Fei, 2017. "Cold utilization systems of LNG: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1171-1188.
    11. Badami, Marco & Bruno, Juan Carlos & Coronas, Alberto & Fambri, Gabriele, 2018. "Analysis of different combined cycles and working fluids for LNG exergy recovery during regasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 373-384.
    12. Romero Gómez, Manuel & Romero Gómez, Javier & López-González, Luis M. & López-Ochoa, Luis M., 2016. "Thermodynamic analysis of a novel power plant with LNG (liquefied natural gas) cold exergy exploitation and CO2 capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 32-44.
    13. Dereje S. Ayou & Valerie Eveloy, 2020. "Integration of Municipal Air-Conditioning, Power, and Gas Supplies Using an LNG Cold Exergy-Assisted Kalina Cycle System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-31, September.
    14. Huang, Z.F. & Wan, Y.D. & Soh, K.Y. & Islam, M.R. & Chua, K.J., 2022. "Off-design and flexibility analyses of combined cooling and power based liquified natural gas (LNG) cold energy utilization system under fluctuating regasification rates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).
    15. Sun, Zhixin & Xu, Fuquan & Wang, Shujia & Lai, Jianpeng & Lin, Kui, 2017. "Comparative study of Rankine cycle configurations utilizing LNG cold energy under different NG distribution pressures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 380-393.
    16. Domingues, António & Matos, Henrique A. & Pereira, Pedro M., 2022. "Novel integrated system of LNG regasification / electricity generation based on a cascaded two-stage Rankine cycle, with ternary mixtures as working fluids and seawater as hot utility," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PC).
    17. Daniarta, Sindu & Nemś, Magdalena & Kolasiński, Piotr, 2023. "A review on thermal energy storage applicable for low- and medium-temperature organic Rankine cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    18. He, Tianbiao & Lv, Hongyu & Shao, Zixian & Zhang, Jibao & Xing, Xialian & Ma, Huigang, 2020. "Cascade utilization of LNG cold energy by integrating cryogenic energy storage, organic Rankine cycle and direct cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    19. Lee, Ung & Mitsos, Alexander, 2017. "Optimal multicomponent working fluid of organic Rankine cycle for exergy transfer from liquefied natural gas regasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 489-501.
    20. Atienza-Márquez, Antonio & Bruno, Joan Carles & Akisawa, Atsushi & Coronas, Alberto, 2019. "Performance analysis of a combined cold and power (CCP) system with exergy recovery from LNG-regasification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 448-461.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:254:y:2022:i:pa:s0360544222013007. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.