Globally,
liquefied natural gas (LNG) has drawn interest as a green
energy source in comparison with other fossil fuels, mainly because
of its ease of transport and low carbon dioxide emissions. However,
LNG production is an energy and cost intensive process because of
the huge power requirements for compression and refrigeration. Therefore,
a major challenge in the LNG industry is to improve the energy efficiency
of the LNG processes through economic and ecological strategies. Optimizing
the design and operational parameters of the natural gas liquefaction
cycles has been considered as one of most effective and popular approaches
to address this issue. This paper reviews recent developments in the
design optimization of LNG processes. In the choice of the most suitable
and competitive LNG process, the operating costs, capital costs, environmental
impact, and safety concerns must be considered for the optimal design
and operation of LNG processes. The challenges in comparing recent
researches are also discussed, along with suggestions for future directions
to improve the energy efficiency of natural gas liquefaction processes.
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