Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications

Biomethane is regarded as a promising renewable energy source, with great potential to satisfy the growth of energy demands and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Liquefaction is a suitable approach for long distances and overseas transportation of biomethane; however, it is energy-intensive due to...

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Main Authors: Tianbiao He, Muhammad Abdul Qyyum, Zhongming Zhou, Ashfaq Ahmad, Mohammad Rehan, Abdul-Sattar Nizami, Moonyong Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Energy Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.656165/full
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author Tianbiao He
Muhammad Abdul Qyyum
Zhongming Zhou
Ashfaq Ahmad
Mohammad Rehan
Abdul-Sattar Nizami
Moonyong Lee
author_facet Tianbiao He
Muhammad Abdul Qyyum
Zhongming Zhou
Ashfaq Ahmad
Mohammad Rehan
Abdul-Sattar Nizami
Moonyong Lee
author_sort Tianbiao He
collection DOAJ
description Biomethane is regarded as a promising renewable energy source, with great potential to satisfy the growth of energy demands and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Liquefaction is a suitable approach for long distances and overseas transportation of biomethane; however, it is energy-intensive due to its cryogenic working condition. The major challenge is to design a high-energy efficiency liquefaction process with simple operation and configuration. A single mixed refrigerant biomethane liquefaction process adopting the cryogenic liquid turbine for small-scale production has been proposed in this study to address this issue. The optimal design corresponding to minimal energy consumption was obtained through the black-hole-based optimization algorithm. The effect of the minimum internal temperature approach (MITA) in the main cryogenic heat exchanger on the biomethane liquefaction process performance was investigated. The study results indicated that the specific energy consumption of modified case 2 with MITA of 2°C was 0.3228 kWh/kg with 21.01% reduction compared to the published base case. When the MITA decreased to 1°C, the specific power of modified case 1 reduced to 0.3162 kWh/kg, which was 24.96% lower than the base case. In terms of exergy analysis, the total exergy destruction of the modified cases 1, 2, and 3 was 31.28%, 22.27%, and 17.51% lower than the base case, respectively. This study’s findings suggested that introducing the cryogenic liquid turbine to the single mixed refrigerant-based biomethane liquefaction process could reduce the specific energy consumption and total exergy destruction significantly. Therefore, this study could provide a viable path for designing and improving the small-scale biomethane liquefaction process.
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spelling doaj.art-d066ded1a2ee457cb3e456e8d82cc66a2022-12-21T22:12:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Energy Research2296-598X2021-04-01910.3389/fenrg.2021.656165656165Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale ApplicationsTianbiao He0Muhammad Abdul Qyyum1Zhongming Zhou2Ashfaq Ahmad3Mohammad Rehan4Abdul-Sattar Nizami5Moonyong Lee6Department of Gas Engineering, College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, ChinaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, South KoreaDepartment of Gas Engineering, College of Pipeline and Civil Engineering, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao, ChinaDepartment of Computer Science, COMSATS University Islamabad, Lahore, PakistanCenter of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaSustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University, Lahore, PakistanSchool of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si, South KoreaBiomethane is regarded as a promising renewable energy source, with great potential to satisfy the growth of energy demands and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Liquefaction is a suitable approach for long distances and overseas transportation of biomethane; however, it is energy-intensive due to its cryogenic working condition. The major challenge is to design a high-energy efficiency liquefaction process with simple operation and configuration. A single mixed refrigerant biomethane liquefaction process adopting the cryogenic liquid turbine for small-scale production has been proposed in this study to address this issue. The optimal design corresponding to minimal energy consumption was obtained through the black-hole-based optimization algorithm. The effect of the minimum internal temperature approach (MITA) in the main cryogenic heat exchanger on the biomethane liquefaction process performance was investigated. The study results indicated that the specific energy consumption of modified case 2 with MITA of 2°C was 0.3228 kWh/kg with 21.01% reduction compared to the published base case. When the MITA decreased to 1°C, the specific power of modified case 1 reduced to 0.3162 kWh/kg, which was 24.96% lower than the base case. In terms of exergy analysis, the total exergy destruction of the modified cases 1, 2, and 3 was 31.28%, 22.27%, and 17.51% lower than the base case, respectively. This study’s findings suggested that introducing the cryogenic liquid turbine to the single mixed refrigerant-based biomethane liquefaction process could reduce the specific energy consumption and total exergy destruction significantly. Therefore, this study could provide a viable path for designing and improving the small-scale biomethane liquefaction process.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.656165/fullbiomethaneliquefied biomethanesingle mixed refrigerantoptimizationexergy destruction analysisrenewable LNG
spellingShingle Tianbiao He
Muhammad Abdul Qyyum
Zhongming Zhou
Ashfaq Ahmad
Mohammad Rehan
Abdul-Sattar Nizami
Moonyong Lee
Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications
Frontiers in Energy Research
biomethane
liquefied biomethane
single mixed refrigerant
optimization
exergy destruction analysis
renewable LNG
title Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications
title_full Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications
title_fullStr Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications
title_full_unstemmed Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications
title_short Black Hole-Inspired Optimal Design of Biomethane Liquefaction Process for Small-Scale Applications
title_sort black hole inspired optimal design of biomethane liquefaction process for small scale applications
topic biomethane
liquefied biomethane
single mixed refrigerant
optimization
exergy destruction analysis
renewable LNG
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2021.656165/full
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AT ashfaqahmad blackholeinspiredoptimaldesignofbiomethaneliquefactionprocessforsmallscaleapplications
AT mohammadrehan blackholeinspiredoptimaldesignofbiomethaneliquefactionprocessforsmallscaleapplications
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AT moonyonglee blackholeinspiredoptimaldesignofbiomethaneliquefactionprocessforsmallscaleapplications