Complex Energy Systems Exploiting Solar Energy and Natural Gas Vaporization

Abstract

The fossil fuel reserves are limited. In addition, usable energy supply has a considerable impact on the environment, even if some effects, which are usually alleged, are far from being fully established. Natural gas is often found in remote locations far from developed industrial nations. Where possible, the gas is transported by pipeline to the end user. However, where oceans separate the gas source and the user, or there are other difficulties, the only viable way to transport the gas is to convert it into liquid natural gas (LNG) and to convey it using insulated LNG tankers. This paper outlines the results of an examination of a complex system, employing solar energy, for the production of electrical energy and the vaporization and superheating of LNG. It is to be remarked that, differently from the usual combined systems, both the thermal source and the thermal sink are exergy sources.