Shuffled Complex Evolution-Based Performance Enhancement and Analysis of Cascade Liquefaction Process for Large-Scale LNG Production

Khaliq Majeed, Muhammad Abdul Qyyum, Alam Nawaz, Ashfaq Ahmad, Muhammad Naqvi, Tianbiao He and Moonyong Lee
Additional contact information
Khaliq Majeed: Department of Chemical Engineering, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Muhammad Abdul Qyyum: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, Korea
Alam Nawaz: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, Korea
Ashfaq Ahmad: Department of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Muhammad Naqvi: Department of Engineering and Chemical Sciences, Karlstad University, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden
Tianbiao He: Department of Gas Engineering, College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Moonyong Lee: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 712-749, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: Among all large-scale natural gas (NG) liquefaction processes, the mixed fluid cascade (MFC) process is recognized as a best-alternative option for the LNG production, mainly due its competitive performance. However, from a thermodynamic point of view, the MFC process is still far from its potential maximum energy efficiency due to non-optimal execution of design variables. Therefore, the energy efficiency enhancement of the MFC process remains an ongoing issue. The design optimization after fixing the main configuration of the process is one of the most economic, but challenging exercises during the design stages. In this study, shuffled complex evolution (SCE) is studied to find the optimal design of the MFC process corresponding to minimal energy consumption in refrigeration cycles. The MFC process is simulated using Aspen Hysys ® v10 and then coupled with the SCE approach, which is coded in MATLAB ® 2019a. The refrigerant composition and operating pressures for each cycle of the MFC process were optimized considering the approach temperature inside the LNG heat exchanger as a constraint. The resulting optimal MFC process saved 19.76% overall compression power and reduced the exergy destruction up to 28.76%. The thermodynamic efficiency (figure of merit) of the SCE-optimized process was 25% higher than that of the published base case. Furthermore, the optimization results also imply that there is a trade-off between the thermodynamic performance improvement and the computational cost (no. of iterations). In conclusion, SCE exhibited potential to improve the performance of highly nonlinear and complex processes such as LNG processes.

Keywords: Mixed fluid cascade; liquefied natural gas; shuffled complex evolution; thermodynamic efficiency; compression power; exergy destruction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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