Utilization of the cryogenic exergy of LNG by a mirror gas-turbine

In the course of worldwide efforts to suppress global warming, the saving of energy becomes more important. Recently, LNG (liquefied natural gas) terminals in our country have received more than 50 million tons of LNG per year. Therefore, the utilization of the cryogenic exergy in connection with the regasification of LNG gains more and more importance. The aim of this paper is the recovery of the energy consumed in liquefaction using the MGT (mirror gas-turbine), which is a new kind of combined cycle of a conventional gas-turbine worked as a topping cycle and TG (inverted Brayton cycle) as a bottoming cycle. The optimum characteristics have been calculated and it is shown that this cycle is superior to the current-use gasification systems in employing seawater heat in terms of thermal efficiency and specific output. In the present cycle, the cold LNG is used to cool the exhaust gas from a turbine of a TG, and then the exergy of the liquefied natural gas is transformed, with a very high efficiency, to electric energy. The main feature of this new concept is the removal of an evaporation system using seawater.