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Performance analysis on combined refrigeration system utilizing LNG cold energy and solar energy

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  • Ning, Jinghong
  • Wang, Nuanhou
  • Ma, Zhicheng
  • Zhang, Qingyu
  • Yang, Xin

Abstract

In order to effectively utilization the solar energy as well as the cold energy released during the vaporization of liquefied natural gas (LNG). A combined system of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and vapor compression refrigeration cycle(VCC)using the cold energy of LNG as the cold source and solar energy as the heat source is proposed, to simultaneously achieve power generation, refrigeration, and carbon capture. The system is analyzed from multiple perspectives including compressor power consumption, COP, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency. The variations of system energy efficiency and exergy efficiency with different operating parameters are investigated, leading to the selection of R1233zd(E)/R717 as the optimal working fluid pair from 25 candidate combinations. When the LNG vaporization pressure reaches 6 MPa, the system achieves an exergy efficiency of 30.36 %. The analysis of exergy loss of the system equipments shows that evaporator 1 and condenser 1 are the main sources of exergy loss. Furthermore, under identical refrigeration conditions, comparative studies with a solar-driven ORC-VCC system using cooling water as the cold source show that the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of the proposed system increasing by 4.49 times and 2.37 times, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • Ning, Jinghong & Wang, Nuanhou & Ma, Zhicheng & Zhang, Qingyu & Yang, Xin, 2026. "Performance analysis on combined refrigeration system utilizing LNG cold energy and solar energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pa:s0960148125015915
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123927
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    References listed on IDEAS

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