Superstructure based techno-economic optimization of the organic rankine cycle using LNG cryogenic energy

Ung Lee, Jeongwoo Jeon, Chonghun Han and Youngsub Lim

Energy, 2017, vol. 137, issue C, 83-94

Abstract: A process design of the organic Rankine cycle utilizing LNG cryogenic exergy is proposed using superstructure optimization. The superstructure imbeds about 1024 possible process alternatives, and the most profitable process configuration and the operating condition are decided simultaneously using a stochastic optimization solver and Aspen Plus-MATLAB interface. The optimum process configuration includes a multi stream cryogenic heat exchanger, a five-stage turbine with reheaters, three stage vapor re-condensation processes and direct contact heaters. In addition, the exergy transfer from the LNG to the working fluid is maximized by using a multi component mixture as working fluid. The 1st law efficiency of the proposed process reaches about 26.2% with 85 °C of waste heat source and it is about 42% higher than that of the conventional ORC. The annual profit of the optimum process is about 39 M$ and it can be interpreted as 24$ of profit per kg LNG evaporation. Sensitivity analysis is also presented to show the reliability of the stochastic solution found in this study.

Keywords: LNG; ORC; Multi component working fluid; Superstructure; Genetic algorithm; Multi stage rankine cycle; Direct contact heater; Optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544217311945
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:137:y:2017:i:c:p:83-94

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.07.019

Access Statistics for this article

Energy is currently edited by Henrik Lund and Mark J. Kaiser

More articles in Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().