Energy and Exergy Analyses of an Innovative Heat Recovery System from the LNG Regasification Process in Green Ships

Roberto Bruno (), Vittorio Ferraro, Piofrancesco Barone and Piero Bevilacqua
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Roberto Bruno: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Vittorio Ferraro: Department of Computer Engineering, Modelling, Electronics and Systems, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Piofrancesco Barone: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
Piero Bevilacqua: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy

Clean Technol., 2024, vol. 6, issue 3, 1-26

Abstract: Despite being stored at 113 K and at atmospheric pressure, LNG cold potential is not exploited to reduce green ships’ energy needs. An innovative system based on three organic Rankine cycles integrated into the regasification equipment is proposed to produce additional power and recover cooling energy from condensers. A first-law analysis identified ethylene and ethane as suitable working fluids for the first and the second ORC, making freshwater and ice available. Propane, ammonia and propylene could be arbitrarily employed in the third ORC for air conditioning. An environmental analysis that combines exergy efficiency, ecological indices and hazard aspects for the marine environment and ship passengers indicated propylene as safer and more environmentally friendly. Exergy analysis confirmed that more than 20% of the LNG potential can be recovered from every cycle to produce a net clean power of 76 kW, whereas 270 kW can be saved by recovering condensers’ cooling power to satisfy some ship needs. Assuming the sailing mode, a limitation of 162 kg in LNG consumptions was determined, avoiding the emission of 1584 kg of CO 2 per day. Marine thermal pollution is reduced by 3.5 times by recovering the working fluids’ condensation heat for the LNG pre-heating.

Keywords: LNG; exergy potential; seawater freezing; ice production; air conditioning; second-law analysis; novel environmental analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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