Heat Transfer and Specific Power Criteria Comparison of Maximum Power and Maximum Ecological Power of Irreversible Carnot-Type Cycles for a Combined Power and LNG Re-Gasification System

An extension of the so-called maximum ecological power cycle introduced by Angulo-Brown for the endoreversible maximum power problem of Curzon-Ahlborn is presented here for the purpose of comparing heat transfer requirements versus power generated by a conceptual power system with LNG re-gasification. This re-gasification concept is being considered as an alternative solution to LNG re-gasification using sea water heat exchangers at LNG receiving terminals. Analytical results of maximum power cycles and cascades are made easier to obtain by using the optimum heat conductance allocation rules obtained in previous work; they are expressed in terms of the heat source and sink temperature ratio, internal irreversibility factor, and heat source mean temperature parameters. These results are then applied to maximum power cycles and cascades for the purpose of integrating power production and LNG re-gasification.