LNG regasifying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for evaporating cold liquefied gases like natural gas are energetically inefficient and costly, lacking effective integration of low-temperature cooling for power generation.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a pipe for cold liquefied gas, a pump, a thermal force machine, and a fluid circuit with multiple heat exchangers that optimize heat integration and pressure for efficient evaporation and electrical energy generation, utilizing ambient heat sources and a nitrogen cycle for supercritical heat exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional evaporation methods using ambient heat or chemical heat are used, then the liquefied gas can be evaporated, but the energy efficiency is low and costs are high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the evaporation process with power generation by integrating a heat engine and generator into the regasification system. The cold liquefied gas serves dual purposes: evaporating to meet gas demand and driving the heat engine to generate electricity, thereby converting what would be wasted cooling energy into useful power and reducing overall energy costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the low-temperature cooling energy that would normally be wasted during regasification into a beneficial resource for power generation. The temperature difference between the cold LNG and ambient environment, previously a loss, is now harnessed to drive the heat engine and generate electrical energy
2Productivity
If low-temperature cooling is not integrated with power generation, then the system is simpler, but energy efficiency and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heat engine serves multiple functions: it receives heat from the ambient environment to evaporate the liquefied gas and simultaneously converts part of this thermal energy into mechanical work to drive the generator. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve both evaporation and power generation within a single integrated process
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating of the cold liquefied gas using ambient heat before it enters the heat engine. This preheating prepares the gas for both efficient evaporation and optimal heat engine operation, ensuring the temperature conditions are right for maximum energy conversion efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves high efficiency in power generation with maximum use of low-temperature cooling, reducing costs and environmental impact, with efficiencies exceeding conventional technologies by 61-64% and eliminating the need for additional components or water.
Implementation Method 1
a first heat exchanger (7), which is further connected in the flow direction of the circular cold liquefied gas behind the pump (3) in the line (2); in the first heat exchanger (7), heat is transmitted, for example, from nitrogen to the liquefied natural gas, whereby the liquefied natural gas heats and evaporates
Implementation Method 2
a compressor (8), with which the fluid / nitrogen can be brought for an optimal heat exchange up to the supercritical pressure range
Implementation Method 3
a second heat exchanger (9), in which ambient heat (for example, a gas turbine superstream air cooling, seawater, ambient air, warmed cooling water) for heating the fluid is used
Implementation Method 4
a third heat exchanger (10), into which the fluid flow is divided into a first partial stream (22) and a second substream (23)
Implementation Method 5
a turbine as a coupling machine (13) with coupled generator (14)
Implementation Method 6
a pump arranged in the line (2) (3), further comprises the device (1) a gas turbine as a thermal power engine (4)
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for generating electrical energy and for vaporising a cryogenically liquefied gas, said device comprising a conduit (2) for the cryogenically liquefied gas, a pump (3) located in the conduit (2), a heat engine (4), and a waste-heat recovery system (5) downstream of the heat engine (4), wherein a branch conduit (18) branches off from the conduit (2) and the branch conduit (18) leads into the heat engine (4), and wherein the apparatus (1) also has a fluid circuit (6) in which the following components are arranged successively in the flow direction of the fluid: - a first heat exchanger (7) which is also connected in the flow direction of the cryogenically liquefied gas past the pump (3) into the conduit (2); - a compressor (8); - a second heat exchanger (9); - parallel to one another, a third heat exchanger (10) with a first side (11), and the waste-heat recovery system (5); - a depressurising machine (13) having a coupled generator (14); and - the third heat exchanger (10) with a second side (12). The invention also relates to a corresponding method for generating electrical energy and for vaporising a cryogenically liquefied gas.