Available power generation cycles to be coupled with the liquid natural gas (LNG) vaporization process in a Spanish LNG terminal

The boil off gas in Spanish LNG terminals is managed using recondensers. The electricity consumed by these terminals is bought in the Spanish wholesale market. Several power generating options using current available equipment and assuring the availability of the current terminal process have been analyzed thermoeconomically. A new combined cycle using a gas turbine and a pure NH3 Rankine cycle coupled with the natural gas vaporization process has been chosen as the most advisable one to be installed, due to the lower thermoeconomic cost obtained as shown in a new graphical representation similar to the existing exergetic cost diagrams. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.