Thermodynamic analysis of a Brayton cycle and Rankine cycle arranged in series exploiting the cold exergy of LNG (liquefied natural gas)

The LNG (liquefied natural gas) regasification process is a source of cold exergy capable of being exploited to improve the efficiency of energy conversion. This paper presents a novel power plant consisting of a combination of a CBC (closed Brayton cycle) with a SRC (steam Rankine cycle), arranged in series with regard to the power source, while exploiting the cold exergy available in the regasification process of LNG. The power plant is fuelled by a combustion system of natural gas where the flue gases firstly yield heat to the CBC, then to the SRC and finally to the combustion air by means of a heat recovery process.