Title: Performance Based Exergy Analysis of a Liquefied Natural Gas Counter Flow Cooling Tower
Authors: Leizou ikie Elijah, Tudou Perewarifagha, OlisaYemi Philip
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Pages: 98-103
Publication Date: 2025/04/28
Abstract:
A cooling tower's capacity to efficiently exchange heat can be severely diminished by improper maintenance and energy losses, which will ultimately result in lower performance and efficiency. The performance-based exergy analysis of a counter-flow cooling tower utilised in the processing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) is investigated in this work. Identifying the cooling tower's energy-dissipating regions was the primary goal in order to optimize the cooling tower's overall efficiency. Poor management and energy losses may drastically decrease a cooling tower's ability to circulate heat, resulting in reduced performance and efficiency. This article investigates the energy expenditure of a counter-flow cooling structure used in the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG). To maximize the cooling tower's overall effectiveness, the primary goal was to identify its energy-dissipating zones. The data for the study came from the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facility on Bonny Island in Rivers State. The analysis was carried out using exergy equations designed specifically for cooling tower operation. Moreover, altering the water flow rate improved performance. Efficiency improved from 25.8% to 28.3%, 34.6% to 37%, and 40.4% to 42.2% at water volume flow rates of 3257.1 kg/s, 5428.5 kg/s, and 7599.9 kg/s, respectively. These findings highlight the need of doing energy analysis on cooling towers in order to detect inefficiencies and direct maintenance and optimization activities for better performance.