Simulating, Analyzing, and Thermodynamic Optimizing of Two Novel Combined Power-Refrigeration Cycles through Cryogenic LNG Energy

The present study aimed to introduce two novel power-refrigeration combined cycles into optimal usage of LNG cryogenic energy and reducing exergy losses due to high-temperature difference in the heat transfer process. The combined cycles include a compression-ejector refrigeration cycle and two low and high-pressure Rankine cycles in which the power required to operate the compression-ejector refrigeration cycle’s compressor is provided by the power generated by the two-cycle Rankin turbines. Increasing the cooling energy compared to direct LNG evaporation is considered as the benefits of the novel combined cycles. A thermodynamic analysis, along with optimizing both novel combined power-refrigeration cycles, was performed through the first and second thermodynamics laws and the fixed surface model assumption for the ejector. Analyzing the design parameters demonstrated that the maximum thermal and exergy efficiency and maximum refrigeration increasing ratio in both novel combined power-refrigeration cycles increase as the pump discharge pressure increases and the output pressure of Rankine cycle turbine reduces. The maximum thermal and exergy efficiency in cycle (І) were 77.31% and 23.69%, and 87.49% and 23.95% in cycle (ІІ), respectively through performing optimization in the boundaries set for the design parameters. Finally, the highest refrigeration increasing ratio to direct evaporation of LNG for cycle І and ІІ was 63.37% and 73.9%, respectively.