Modares Mechanical Engineering

Modares Mechanical Engineering

Energy, exergy and exergo-economic analysis of a multiple generation system with liquefied natural gas cold energy

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kermanshah University of Technology, Kermanshah, Iran
Abstract
This paper investigates and analyzes an advanced multi-generation combined system that utilizes liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the primary energy source. The proposed system consists of a main Brayton cycle, a supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO₂) cycle, and two organic Rankine cycles (ORCs) as heat recovery subsystems. In addition, a water electrolysis unit for hydrogen production and a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination unit are integrated into the system. By exploiting the energy released from methane combustion in the combustion chamber, the system not only generates 145471 kW of net power, but also performs LNG regasification for injection into the urban natural gas network. Simultaneously, part of the generated power is used to produce 43.1 kg/h of hydrogen in the electrolyzer and to desalinate 30 kg/s of freshwater in the RO unit. A comprehensive energy, exergy, and exergo-economic analysis of the system is carried out using the Engineering Equation Solver (EES) software. The results indicate that the integrated system achieves high energy and exergy efficiencies while simultaneously delivering four valuable outputs, namely electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, and freshwater, at a considerable scale.
Keywords
Subjects

[1] Li, Y., Zhang, Z., & Tian, Y. (2017). Exergy analysis and optimization of a combined power cycle with LNG cold energy recovery. Energy118, 776-782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.10.106
[2] Liu, H., & You, L. (1999). Characteristics and applications of the cold heat exergy of liquefied natural gas. Energy Conversion and Management40(14), 1515–1525. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(99)00033-6
[3] Choi, I. H., Lee, S., Seo, Y., & Chang, D. (2013). Analysis and optimization of a cascade Rankine cycle for liquefied natural gas cold energy recovery. Energy61, 179–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2013.08.047
[4] Nami, H., Mahmoudi, S. M. S., & Nemati, A. (2017). Exergy, economic and environmental impact assessment and optimization of a novel cogeneration system including a solid oxide fuel cell and a Stirling engine. Applied Thermal Engineering110, 1315–1330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2016.09.053
[5] Wang, X., He, M., Wang, H., & Geng, Z. (2019). Thermodynamic optimization of a dual-stage organic Rankine cycle using LNG cold energy for power generation. Energy Conversion and Management198, 111818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.111818
[6] Sayyaadi, H., & Nejatolahi, M. (2010). Multi-objective optimization of an integrated gas turbine cogeneration plant for producing power and fresh water. Energy35(11), 4471–4482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2010.07.027
[7] Aghazadeh Dokandari D., Haghighi Khoskho R., Bidi M., Mafi M.  Simulating, Analyzing, and Thermodynamic Optimizing of Two Novel Combined
Power-Refrigeration Cycles through Cryogenic LNG Energy. Journal of Mechanical Engineering (University of Tabriz), 51(4), 2022, 11-20. https://doi.org/10.22034/jmeut.2022.11034
[8] Kalantari A., Energy and Exergy Assessment of a Novel Combined Geothermal–LNG Cycle with Energy Recovery and Green Hydrogen Production, Science and Technology in Mechanical Engineering, 4, 1, 2025, 217-235. https://doi.org/doi: 10.22034/stme.2025.528631.1135
[9] Eyvazi A., Ameri M., Shafiey Dehaj M., GhaebiH. Thermodynamic, Economic and Optimization Analysis of a New Geothermal Energy-Based Multiple Generation System for Hot Water, Cooling, Power and Liquid Hydrogen Production, Science and Technology in Mechanical Engineering, 3, 1, 2024, 207-225. doi: 10.22034/stme.2025.490141.1089
[10] Bejan A, Tsatsaronis G, Moran MJ. (1996). Thermal Design and Optimization. John Wiley & Sons
[11] Ozen, D. N., & Uçar, İ. (2020). Energy, exergy, and exergo-economic analysis of a novel combined power system using the cold energy of liquified natural gas (LNG). Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 39(4), e13377. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13377
[12] Cao, Y., Wang, J., Dai, Y., & Xie, D. (2015, June 15-19). Study of the speed control system of a heavy-duty gas turbine [Paper presentation]. ASME Turbo Expo 2015: Turbine Technical Conference and Expositio,Montréal,Québec, Canada. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2015-43867
[13] Ersoy, H. K., & Demirpolat, S. O. (2009). Using liquefied natural gas cold energy for power generation: Case study for Marmara Eregli receiving terminal. Journal of the Energy Institute82(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1179/174602209X389369
[14] Wang, F., Zhou, R., Zhang, S., & Fang, M. (2020). Optimization of CO2 capture process from natural gas fired power plants using a novel dual-pressure configuration. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy39(6), e13459. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.13459
[15] Pattanayak, L., Sahu, J. N., & Mohanty, P. (2017). Combined cycle power plant performance evaluation using exergy and energy analysis. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy36(4), 1180–1186. https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.12574
[16] Mirmasoumi, S., Saray, R. K., & Ebrahimi, S. (2018). Evaluation of thermal pre-treatment and digestion temperature rise in a biogas fueled combined cooling, heat, and power system using exergo-economic analysis. Energy Conversion and Management163, 219–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.02.062