IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v294y2024ics0360544224006662.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A compression-free re-liquefication process of LNG boil-off gas using LNG cold energy

Author

Listed:
  • Sun, Daming
  • Wang, Chenghong
  • Shen, Qie

Abstract

Re-liquefying boil-off gas (BOG) of LNG is of great significance for energy conservation and environmental protection. BOG is usually compressed before being liquefied with nitrogen reverse Brayton cycle, which makes the system's capital investment and energy consumption high. A novel compression-free re-liquefication process of BOG using liquid nitrogen (LN2) is proposed. BOG is liquefied with latent heat of LN2, reducing the heat-transfer temperature difference in BOG condenser and the required amount of refrigerant. LN2 is produced using LNG pre-cooled Joule-Thomson cycle. Overall optimization is performed using genetic algorithm. Thermodynamic, economic, and environmental assessments are conducted based on the optimized results. Sensitivity analysis of the principal design parameters is performed. It is found that the proposed process is significantly profitable because it fully utilizes the cold energy of LNG and LN2 and eliminates the required cost for BOG compressor, turbine expander, and LNG regasification process. The minimum specific energy consumption of 0.74 kWh·kg−1 is achieved, and the figure of merit is up to 34.95%. The payback period of total capital investment is only one month. Carbon dioxide emission is reduced by 36242.66 kg·h−1 compared to the direct emission of BOG. Pinch temperature difference of 3∼5 °C is recommended for cryogenic heat exchangers.

Suggested Citation

  • Sun, Daming & Wang, Chenghong & Shen, Qie, 2024. "A compression-free re-liquefication process of LNG boil-off gas using LNG cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:294:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224006662
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.130894
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544224006662
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2024.130894?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. 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.
    2. Sihwan Park & Wonjun Noh & Jaedeuk Park & Jinwoo Park & Inkyu Lee, 2022. "Efficient Heat Exchange Configuration for Sub-Cooling Cycle of Hydrogen Liquefaction Process," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, June.
    3. Park, Jinwoo & Qi, Meng & Kim, Jeongdong & Noh, Wonjun & Lee, Inkyu & Moon, Il, 2020. "Exergoeconomic optimization of liquid air production by use of liquefied natural gas cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    4. Kwak, Dong-Hun & Heo, Jeong-Ho & Park, Seung-Ha & Seo, Seok-Jang & Kim, Jin-Kuk, 2018. "Energy-efficient design and optimization of boil-off gas (BOG) re-liquefaction process for liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fuelled ship," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 915-929.
    5. Yin, L. & Ju, Y.L., 2019. "Comparison and analysis of two nitrogen expansion cycles for BOG Re-liquefaction systems for small LNG ships," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 769-776.
    6. Kochunni, Sarun Kumar & Chowdhury, Kanchan, 2020. "Use of dual pressure Claude liquefaction cycles for complete and energy-efficient reliquefaction of boil-off gas in LNG carrier ships," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Son, Hyunsoo & Kim, Jin-Kuk, 2019. "Operability study on small-scale BOG (boil-off gas) re-liquefaction processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1263-1281.
    8. Kim, Juwon & Seo, Youngkyun & Chang, Daejun, 2016. "Economic evaluation of a new small-scale LNG supply chain using liquid nitrogen for natural-gas liquefaction," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 154-163.
    9. Wang, Xiao-Qiong & Li, Xiao-Ping & Li, You-Rong & Wu, Chun-Mei, 2015. "Payback period estimation and parameter optimization of subcritical organic Rankine cycle system for waste heat recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 734-745.
    10. Liu, Jingyuan & Zhou, Tian & Yang, Sheng, 2024. "Advanced exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of a multi-stage Rankine cycle system combined with hydrate energy storage recovering LNG cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    11. Wang, Chenghong & Sun, Daming & Shen, Qie & Shen, Keyi & Linghu, Jianshe & Wang, Xiaodong, 2023. "Techno-economic analysis on nitrogen reverse Brayton cycles for efficient coalbed methane liquefaction process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    12. Querol, E. & Gonzalez-Regueral, B. & García-Torrent, J. & García-Martínez, M.J., 2010. "Boil off gas (BOG) management in Spanish liquid natural gas (LNG) terminals," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(11), pages 3384-3392, November.
    13. Franco, Alessandro & Giovannini, Caterina, 2023. "Optimal design of direct expansion systems for electricity production by LNG cold energy recovery," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    14. 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.
    15. Kochunni, Sarun Kumar & Chowdhury, Kanchan, 2019. "LNG boil-off gas reliquefaction by Brayton refrigeration system – Part 1: Exergy analysis and design of the basic configuration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 753-764.
    16. Yin, Liang & Ju, Yonglin, 2020. "Design and analysis of a process for directly Re-liquefying BOG using subcooled LNG for LNG carrier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    17. Shin, Younggy & Lee, Yoon Pyo, 2009. "Design of a boil-off natural gas reliquefaction control system for LNG carriers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 37-44, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Yin, Liang & Ju, Yonglin, 2020. "Conceptual design and analysis of a novel process for BOG re-liquefaction combined with absorption refrigeration cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    2. Bian, Jiang & Yang, Jian & Liu, Yang & Li, Yuxing & Cao, Xuewen, 2022. "Analysis and efficiency enhancement for energy-saving re-liquefaction processes of boil-off gas without external refrigeration cycle on LNG carriers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(PB).
    3. Yin, Liang & Ju, Yonglin, 2022. "Review on the design and optimization of BOG re-liquefaction process in LNG ship," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PB).
    4. Son, Hyunsoo & Kim, Jin-Kuk, 2020. "Energy-efficient process design and optimization of dual-expansion systems for BOG (Boil-off gas) Re-liquefaction process in LNG-fueled ship," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    5. Yin, Liang & Ju, Yonglin, 2020. "Design and analysis of a process for directly Re-liquefying BOG using subcooled LNG for LNG carrier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    6. Cao, Xuewen & Yang, Jian & Zhang, Yue & Gao, Song & Bian, Jiang, 2022. "Process optimization, exergy and economic analysis of boil-off gas re-liquefaction processes for LNG carriers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C).
    7. Lee, Jaejun & Son, Heechang & Yu, Taejong & Oh, Juyoung & Park, Min Gyun & Lim, Youngsub, 2023. "Process design of advanced LNG subcooling system combined with a mixed refrigerant cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    8. 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).
    9. Kochunni, Sarun Kumar & Chowdhury, Kanchan, 2020. "Use of dual pressure Claude liquefaction cycles for complete and energy-efficient reliquefaction of boil-off gas in LNG carrier ships," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    10. Qi, Meng & Park, Jinwoo & Lee, Inkyu & Moon, Il, 2022. "Liquid air as an emerging energy vector towards carbon neutrality: A multi-scale systems perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    11. Kochunni, Sarun Kumar & Joy, Jubil & Chowdhury, Kanchan, 2019. "LNG boil-off gas reliquefaction by Brayton refrigeration system – Part 2: Improvements over basic configuration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 861-873.
    12. Liu, Jingyuan & Zhou, Tian & Yang, Sheng, 2024. "Advanced exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of a multi-stage Rankine cycle system combined with hydrate energy storage recovering LNG cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 288(C).
    13. Wang, Chenghong & Sun, Daming & Shen, Qie & Shen, Keyi & Linghu, Jianshe & Wang, Xiaodong, 2023. "Techno-economic analysis on nitrogen reverse Brayton cycles for efficient coalbed methane liquefaction process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    14. Pan, Jie & Cao, Qinghan & Li, Mofan & Li, Ran & Tang, Linghong & Bai, Junhua, 2024. "Energy integration of light hydrocarbon separation, LNG cold energy power generation, and BOG combustion: Thermo-economic optimization and analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 356(C).
    15. Wang, Cheng & Ju, Yonglin & Fu, Yunzhun, 2021. "Comparative life cycle cost analysis of low pressure fuel gas supply systems for LNG fueled ships," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    16. Jin, Chunhe & Lim, Youngsub & Xu, Xin, 2023. "Performance analysis of a boil-off gas re-liquefaction process for LNG carriers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    17. Park, Jinwoo & Cho, Seungsik & Qi, Meng & Noh, Wonjun & Lee, Inkyu & Moon, Il, 2021. "Liquid air energy storage coupled with liquefied natural gas cold energy: Focus on efficiency, energy capacity, and flexibility," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    18. Pospíšil, Jiří & Charvát, Pavel & Arsenyeva, Olga & Klimeš, Lubomír & Špiláček, Michal & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír, 2019. "Energy demand of liquefaction and regasification of natural gas and the potential of LNG for operative thermal energy storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1-15.
    19. Keuntae Lee & Deuk-Yong Koh & Junseok Ko & Hankil Yeom & Chang-Hyo Son & Jung-In Yoon, 2020. "Design and Performance Test of 2 kW Class Reverse Brayton Cryogenic System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, September.
    20. Ebrahimi, Armin & Ghorbani, Bahram & Ziabasharhagh, Masoud, 2020. "Introducing a novel integrated cogeneration system of power and cooling using stored liquefied natural gas as a cryogenic energy storage system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).

    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:294:y:2024:i:c:s0360544224006662. 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.