IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v384y2025ics030626192500220x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimization and analysis of reliquefaction system utilizing hydrogen as refrigerant for liquid hydrogen carriers

Author

Listed:
  • Choi, Minsoo
  • Jung, Wongwan
  • Ji, Sangmin
  • Lee, Jinkwang

Abstract

In this study, a reliquefaction system utilizing a reverse Brayton cycle with hydrogen as a refrigerant to handle boil-off hydrogen (BOH) generated within liquid hydrogen carriers operating in oceanic routes from a thermodynamic perspective is proposed. Furthermore, optimization targeting specific energy consumption (SEC) as the fitness function was performed using a genetic algorithm. Subsequently, an economic analysis was conducted at the equipment unit level for the reliquefaction system. Thermodynamic analysis of the optimized system revealed a SEC of 5.028 kWh/kg and an exergy efficiency of 44.48 %. During optimization, the circulation rates of BOH and refrigerant decreased, leading to a significant reduction in the exergy destruction within the heat exchangers and an improvement in the system efficiency. Notably, the optimization results indicated the significant influence of the heat exchange conditions in the heat exchangers on the overall system efficiency. It is also worth noting that the optimal BOH compression pressure was approximately 25 bara, which is similar to the pressure of the raw material hydrogen used as a feed gas in onshore hydrogen liquefaction systems. This suggests that the design experience gained from manufacturing equipment for onshore hydrogen liquefaction systems can provide significant benefits when producing equipment for onboard BOH reliquefaction systems. Economic analysis revealed that in the optimized system, it costs USD 1.09 to reliquefy 1 kg of BOH.

Suggested Citation

  • Choi, Minsoo & Jung, Wongwan & Ji, Sangmin & Lee, Jinkwang, 2025. "Optimization and analysis of reliquefaction system utilizing hydrogen as refrigerant for liquid hydrogen carriers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:384:y:2025:i:c:s030626192500220x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125490
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030626192500220X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125490?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Cheng & Ju, Yonglin & Fu, Yunzhun, 2021. "Comparative life cycle cost analysis of low pressure fuel gas supply systems for LNG fueled ships," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 218(C).
    2. Yang, Jae-Hyeon & Yoon, Younggak & Ryu, Mincheol & An, Su-Kyung & Shin, Jisup & Lee, Chul-Jin, 2019. "Integrated hydrogen liquefaction process with steam methane reforming by using liquefied natural gas cooling system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. Gu, Jiwon & Choe, Changgwon & Haider, Junaid & Al-Abri, Rashid & Qyyum, Muhammad Abdul & Al-Muhtaseb, Ala'a H. & Lim, Hankwon, 2023. "Development and modification of large-scale hydrogen liquefaction process empowered by LNG cold energy: A feasibility study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 351(C).
    4. Song, Rui & Cui, Mengmeng & Liu, Jianjun, 2017. "Single and multiple objective optimization of a natural gas liquefaction process," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 19-28.
    5. Kim, Donghoi & Hwang, Chulmin & Gundersen, Truls & Lim, Youngsub, 2019. "Process design and economic optimization of boil-off-gas re-liquefaction systems for LNG carriers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 1119-1129.
    6. Minsoo Choi & Wongwan Jung & Sanghyuk Lee & Taehwan Joung & Daejun Chang, 2021. "Thermal Efficiency and Economics of a Boil-Off Hydrogen Re-Liquefaction System Considering the Energy Efficiency Design Index for Liquid Hydrogen Carriers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-23, July.
    7. Geng, Jinliang & Sun, Heng, 2023. "Optimization and analysis of a hydrogen liquefaction process: Energy, exergy, economic, and uncertainty quantification analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(PA).
    8. Morales-Ospino, R. & Celzard, A. & Fierro, V., 2023. "Strategies to recover and minimize boil-off losses during liquid hydrogen storage," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    9. Mazloomi, Kaveh & Gomes, Chandima, 2012. "Hydrogen as an energy carrier: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 3024-3033.
    10. Aasadnia, Majid & Mehrpooya, Mehdi, 2018. "Large-scale liquid hydrogen production methods and approaches: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 57-83.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lei Xu & Yankun Li & Wenchao Zhang & Tiancai Ma & Xiuhui Jing, 2025. "Safety Analysis of Hydrogen-Powered Train in Different Application Scenarios: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-26, March.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Chen, Shuhang & Qiu, Changxu & Shen, Yunwei & Tao, Xuan & Gan, Zhihua, 2024. "Thermodynamic and economic analysis of new coupling processes with large-scale hydrogen liquefaction process and liquid air energy storage," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    2. Fang, Song & Zhu, Shaolong & Wei, Xinyu & Teng, Junjie & Cao, Shaoyu & Wang, Kai & Qiu, Limin, 2024. "Dimensionless performance mapping of cryogenic plate-fin heat exchangers with ortho-para hydrogen continuous conversion for hydrogen liquefaction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    3. Fengyuan Yan & Jinliang Geng & Guangxin Rong & Heng Sun & Lei Zhang & Jinxu Li, 2023. "Optimization and Analysis of an Integrated Liquefaction Process for Hydrogen and Natural Gas Utilizing Mixed Refrigerant Pre-Cooling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Bi, Yujing & Ju, Yonglin, 2022. "Design and analysis of an efficient hydrogen liquefaction process based on helium reverse Brayton cycle integrating with steam methane reforming and liquefied natural gas cold energy utilization," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    5. Zhang, Rui & Cao, Xuewen & Zhang, Xingwang & Yang, Jian & Bian, Jiang, 2024. "Co-benefits of the liquid hydrogen economy and LNG economy: Advances in LNG integrating LH2 production processes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    6. Zubi, Ghassan & Kuhn, Maximilian & Makridis, Sofoklis & Coutinho, Savio & Dorasamy, Stanley, 2025. "Aviation sector decarbonization within the hydrogen economy – A UAE case study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    7. Muhammad Aziz, 2021. "Liquid Hydrogen: A Review on Liquefaction, Storage, Transportation, and Safety," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-29, September.
    8. Qiao, Yan & Jiang, Wenquan & Li, Yang & Dong, Xiaoxiao & Yang, Fan, 2024. "Design and analysis of steam methane reforming hydrogen liquefaction and waste heat recovery system based on liquefied natural gas cold energy," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    9. Park, Minji & Gbadago, Dela Quarme & Jung, Hyungjun & Hwang, Sungwon, 2025. "Achieving optimal energy efficiency, enhanced exergy performance, and comprehensive economic analysis in hydrogen refrigeration systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    10. Bahram Ghorbani & Sohrab Zendehboudi & Noori M. Cata Saady, 2025. "Advancing Hybrid Cryogenic Natural Gas Systems: A Comprehensive Review of Processes and Performance Optimization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-87, March.
    11. Lee, Jaejun & Son, Heechang & Yu, Taejong & Oh, Juyoung & Park, Min Gyun & Lim, Youngsub, 2023. "Process design of advanced LNG subcooling system combined with a mixed refrigerant cycle," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PA).
    12. Lee, Ju-Sung & Cherif, Ali & Yoon, Ha-Jun & Seo, Seung-Kwon & Bae, Ju-Eon & Shin, Ho-Jin & Lee, Chulgu & Kwon, Hweeung & Lee, Chul-Jin, 2022. "Large-scale overseas transportation of hydrogen: Comparative techno-economic and environmental investigation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    13. Teng, Junjie & Wang, Kai & Zhu, Shaolong & Bao, Shiran & Zhi, Xiaoqin & Zhang, Xiaobin & Qiu, Limin, 2023. "Comparative study on thermodynamic performance of hydrogen liquefaction processes with various ortho-para hydrogen conversion methods," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    14. Zhang, Tongtong & Uratani, Joao & Huang, Yixuan & Xu, Lejin & Griffiths, Steve & Ding, Yulong, 2023. "Hydrogen liquefaction and storage: Recent progress and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    15. Hoang, Anh Tuan & Pandey, Ashok & Martinez De Osés, Francisco Javier & Chen, Wei-Hsin & Said, Zafar & Ng, Kim Hoong & Ağbulut, Ümit & Tarełko, Wiesław & Ölçer, Aykut I. & Nguyen, Xuan Phuong, 2023. "Technological solutions for boosting hydrogen role in decarbonization strategies and net-zero goals of world shipping: Challenges and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    16. Liu, Huanan & Tang, Lanfa & Dou, Zhenlan & Wang, Songcen & Yu, Dongmin, 2025. "Optimizing integrated hydrogen liquefaction with LNG cold energy: A thermoeconomic assessment, comparative analysis, and feasibility study with emphasis on composite curves and uncertainty scrutiny," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 315(C).
    17. Soobin Hyeon & Jinkwang Lee & Jungho Choi, 2022. "Evaluation of Fuel Gas Supply System for Marine Dual-Fuel Propulsion Engines Using LNG and Ammonia Fuel," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-16, August.
    18. Rezaei, Mostafa & Akimov, Alexandr & Gray, Evan MacA., 2024. "Techno-economics of renewable hydrogen export: A case study for Australia-Japan," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 374(C).
    19. Yadav, Deepak & Banerjee, Rangan, 2020. "Net energy and carbon footprint analysis of solar hydrogen production from the high-temperature electrolysis process," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    20. Bian, Jiang & Zhang, Xingwang & Zhang, Rui & Cai, Weihua & Hua, Yihuai & Cao, Xuewen, 2024. "Conceptual design and analysis of a new hydrogen liquefaction process based on heat pump systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 374(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:384:y:2025:i:c:s030626192500220x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.