Tackling Dissipative Components Based on the SPECO Approach: A Cryogenic Heat Exchanger Used in Natural Gas Liquefaction

Eduardo J. C. Cavalcanti and Monica Carvalho
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Eduardo J. C. Cavalcanti: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal 59072-970, Brazil
Monica Carvalho: Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa 58051-900, Brazil

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: The cryogenic industry has been experiencing continuous progress in recent years, primarily due to the global development of oil and gas activities. Natural gas liquefaction is a cryogenic process, with the refrigeration system being crucial to the overall process. The objective of the study presented herein is to carry out an exergoeconomic assessment for a dual nitrogen expander process used to liquefy natural gas, employing the SPecific Exergy COsting (SPECO) methodology. The air coolers and throttling valve are dissipative components, which present fictitious unit cost rates that are reallocated to the final product (Liquefied Natural Gas). The liquefaction process has an exergy efficiency of 41.89%, and the specific cost of liquefied natural gas is 292.30 US$/GJ. It was verified that this cost increased along with electricity. The highest exergy destruction rates were obtained for Expander 1 and Air cooler 2. The highest average cost per exergy unit of fuel was obtained for the vertical separator, followed by Air coolers 1 and 2. An assessment of the exergoeconomic factor indicated that both expanders could benefit from a decrease in exergy destruction, improving the exergoeconomic performance of the overall system. Regarding the relative cost difference, all compressors presented high values and can be enhanced with low efforts.

Keywords: exergy; exergoeconomics; dissipative components; sustainable production; LNG; SPECO; SDG 12 (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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