Optimization of Plate Fin Heat Exchangers Used in Natural Gas Liquefaction - ICFD10-EG-3073
Optimization of Plate Fin Heat Exchangers Used in Natural Gas Liquefaction - ICFD10-EG-3073
Optimization of Plate Fin Heat Exchangers Used in Natural Gas Liquefaction - ICFD10-EG-3073
ICFD10-EG-3073
Optimization of Plate Fin Heat Exchangers Used in Natural Gas Liquefaction
A. Salama and A. Khalil
Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University, Mechanical Power Engineering
ABSTRACT
Plate-fin heat exchangers are part of an extensive family of
compact heat exchangers (CHEs). Plate fin heat exchanger
(PFHE) is used in many thermal process systems. A PFHE
operating in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) facilities has been
studied in the present model targeting its optimization by
investigating the different effective parameters such as
material, pressure drop, size and types of fins used. Materials
considered in this study included Stainless Steel, Nickel alloys ,
Aluminum and Copper. The Study included a comparison
between the different types of fin configuration such as
Louvered fin, Plain fin, Wavy fin, and Strip fin. In addition, a
techno-econmic comparision between the different models was
carried out. The Engineering Equation Solver (EES) program is
used for solving the governing equations numerically for the
models under study.
KEYWORDS:
Optimization, Plate Fin Heat Exchanger, Natural Gas
Liquefaction
Nitrogen cycle
INTRODUCTION
Recently, there has been a significant increase in the level
of interest in environmentally friendly and economically viable
solutions for the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
LNG carriers have been driven by a steam turbine and the boiloff gas (BOG) from the LNG cargo. The high consumption of
the steam turbine as compared to last-generation diesel engines
in addition to environmental concerns and future regulation
will eventually motivate their replacement. Alternative
propulsion systems such as the diesel engine are equipped on
the LNG carriers for better fuel economy. Liquefaction of boiloff gases on LNG carriers results in increased cargo deliveries
and allows owners and operators to choose the most optimal
propulsion system. Instead of the common application of using
the boil-off gas as fuel, the LNG BOG re-liquefaction system
provides a solution to liquefy the boil-off gas back to the cargo
tanks. The LNG re-liquefaction system has merit in the large
savings in total fuel consumption and improved propulsion
redundancy.
0.8
0.5
2 =%95
0.7
COP
0.6
1 =%90
1=%85
1=%95
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
T=T[6]-T[5]
140
120
100
1 =90 %
1 =% 85
80
1=95 %
60
40
20
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
T=T[6]-T[5]
(1)
NVHc=(k1c)+(4*fc*L*c[1])/(De*cm/1000)+(k2c*c[1]/c[2])+2*
(2)
((c[1]/ c[2])-1)
C-value method
-value method
Temperature C
Temp. C
Temp. K
1.
2.
Cold side
In
Out
-43.8
36.63
229.2
309.63
Hot side
In
Out
39.78
-24.2
312.8
248.8
(8)
312 . 8 309 .6
Ln =
248 . 8 229 . 2
= 8.806 K
3.
Q./ Tm
4 .9095 x 10 7
8 . 806
= 5.565 x 10 6 W/K
Q / Tm =
(9)
2.
In (C1 / C 2 ) x In [(Q / Tm ) / (Q / Tm )1 ]
C = exp In C1 +
(10)
In [(Q / Tm )2 / (Q / Tm )1 ]
In (0 . 46 / 0 . 2 ) x In [(55654 / 30000 )]
C = exp In 0 . 46 +
In [30000 / 100000 ]
= 0.299
4.
Cost = Q./ Tm x C
= 5.565 x 10 6 x 0.299
= 2.66 x 10 6 US$
5.
(11)
L-10=3/8-11.1 (Louvered)
P-9=19.86 (Plain)
S-2=3/32-12.2 (Strip)
Construction cost
SC = 96 US$ per square meter , therefore,
SC = 96 x 1.436 = 129 US$
Installation cost
SI = 150 US$ per square meter, therefore,
SI = 150 x 1.436 = 215 US$
Maintenance cost
SM = % 3 of the purchase cost,
SM = 0.03 x 3.328 x 10 6 = 99840 US$
2.50E-05
W/Q
2.00E-05
1.50E-05
1.00E-05
5.00E-06
0.00E+00
P-9
L-10
FIN TYPE
S2
W2
CONCLUSION
In this paper, numerical methods are used to analyze the
Claude cycle used in the LNG process and study the effect of
heat exchangers effectiveness on the performance of the cycle.
The study shows that the first heat exchanger has stronger
effect on the cycle than the second heat exchanger. Also, the
study shows that the temperature difference between the inlet
and the outlet of third heat exchanger (HX3) is less than 2 oC.
Therefore, the basic Claude system can be modified by
eliminating the third heat exchanger with the intent of reducing
the initial cost. The study for using different materials in PFHE
indicated the inverse non liner relation between the thermal
conductivity of the material used and the length of PFHE
required. The comparision made between the cost of PFHE
when using different materials shows that aluminum achiveded
the lowest cost although its thermal conductivity is not the
highest one between the materials selected.
f
q
Tm
p
NVH
k1, k2
hC
m
A
G
j
De
ff
c
Hot
Coefficient of performance
Inlet
Outlet
Greek letters
Effectiveness
Density
REFERENCES
[1] Moon, J. W., Lee, Y. P., Jin, Y. W., Hong, E. S., and Chang,
H. M., "Cryogenic Refrigeration Cycle for Re-Liquefaction of
LNG Boil-Off Gas", International Cryocooler Conference,
Inc., Boulder, CO, 2007
[2] Bowdery, A. J., Clarke, R.H., Haseler, L., and Shields, P., and
Taylor, M.A., "Selection and costing of heat exchangers Plate
Fin type", Engineering Science Data Unit 14 Nov. 2006, 2006
(E04): 1-47.
[3] Zhou Guo-Yan, Wu En and Tu Shan-Tung "Technoeconomic study on compact heat exchangers", International
Journal of Energy Research 2008; 32:11191127.
[4] Li-Yanzhong and Mi-Tingcan, "Influence of longitudinal heat
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[5] Wang-Lieke and Sunden-Bengt, "Design methodology for
multistream plate-fin heat exchanger networks", Heat
Transfer
Engineering, V 22 No.6 November/December
2001, pp. 3-11.
[6] Khalil, A., and McIntosh, G.E., "Thermodynamic optimization
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[7] Jiao-Anjun, Li-Yanzhong and Zhang-Rui, "Effects of
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[8] Zhang-Zhe and Li-Yang Zhong, "CFD simulation on inlet
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h
COP
in
out
Friction factor
Heat load
The mean temperature difference
Overall pressure drop
Number of velocity heads
Inlet and outlet "minor losses" coefficients
Heat transfer coefficient
Mass flow rate
Area
Mass flow rate per unit free flow area
Colburn factor
Hydraulic diameter
Free flow area
Cold