Exergoeconomic evaluation of single mixed refrigerant natural gas liquefaction processes

• Exergoeconomic analysis is performed for single mixed refrigerant process.
• Cost of exergy destruction and exergoeconomic factor are calculated.
• Sensitivity of exergoeconomic factor is investigated.

Exergy and exergoeconomic analysis is performed for single mixed refrigerant Linde and Air Products and Chemicals Inc, processes, which are among the most important and popular natural gas liquefaction processes. Cost of exergy destruction, exergoeconomic factor, exergy destruction and exergy efficiency are calculated. Results of exergy analysis demonstrates that exergy efficiency of Linde process is around 40.2%, and its total exergy destruction rate is 93,229 kW. The exergy efficiency and exergy destruction rate for Air Products and Chemicals Inc, process are 45.0% and 72,245 kW respectively. Results of exergoeconomic analysis suggests that maximum exergy destruction cost for Linde process is related to E-2 heat exchanger which is 34,072 $/h and for Air Products and Chemicals Inc, process maximum exergy destruction cost is related to E-2 heat exchanger with the value of 4125 kW. Sensitivity of cost of exergy destruction and exergoeconomic factor to operating variables of the processes are studied and analyzed.