Evaluation of small-scale liquefied natural gas (SSLNG) processes: advanced exergoeconomic analysis

摘要: One of the principal challenges facing today’s society is the necessity to discover more environmentally friendly, futureproof energy sources. In this scope, natural gas, ensued by liquefied natural gas, is an ever more important cornerstone on the path towards a low-carbon economy. The present study evaluates the processes employed for small-scale liquefied natural gas (SSLNG) plants. Three processes, namely, dual expansion, pre-cooled PRICO, and nitrogen expansion, and thereof, conventional and advanced exergoeconomic analyses are applied to appraise the performance of the processes. In the energy analysis, three parameters were assessed, namely, specific power consumption, the figure of merit, and the coefficient of performance. The precooled PRICO and the nitrogen expansion processes were the performant in the first two, and the third, respectively. The exergy efficiency in the three processes …