LNG cold energy utilization: Prospects and challenges

Tianbiao He, Zheng Rong Chong, Junjie Zheng, Yonglin Ju and Praveen Linga

Energy, 2019, vol. 170, issue C, 557-568

Abstract: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is widely used in many countries around the world primarily as a mode of transport for natural gas. However, massive amount of energy (around 830 kJ/kg of LNG) is wasted during the regasification process in the LNG regasification terminals. Therefore, the technologies to utilize the LNG cold energy have received significant attention over recent decades. In this paper, we review various studies on the current LNG cold energy utilization systems, including power generation, air separation, desalination, cryogenic carbon dioxide capture, and NGL recovery. Utilizing LNG cold energy on such systems can improve the energetic and exergetic efficiencies significantly. Furthermore, several potential applications to utilize LNG cold energy in the future are proposed and discussed to broaden the perspectives of the researchers in the community. Among these potential applications, recovering LNG cold energy on cold chain for food transportation, data center cooling and hydrate based desalination are very promising. Finally, the limitations and challenges to be addressed for LNG cold energy utilization are discussed in detail.

Keywords: LNG; Cold energy utilization; Power generation; Desalination; Direct cooling; Air conditioning (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (66)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:170:y:2019:i:c:p:557-568

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.12.170

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