A Look into the Boil‐Off Gas Reliquefaction in Propane Storage Plants

Abstract The reliquefaction process of boil‐off gas (BOG) in a propane plant using the reverse Brayton cooling cycle was examined by simulating the operational parameters and system performance of a propane reliquefaction plant in Aspen HYSYS software. The simulation considered various process and design parameters and their effects on the BOG production rate, energy consumption demand, and coefficient of performance (COP) of the cycle. The results demonstrate that the inclusion of methane in the propane product has a considerable impact on the generation of BOG, but this comes at a cost because power consumption increases significantly and the cycle's COP decreases. Furthermore, heat transmission from the surrounding air through the tank insulation and the temperature at which propane is returned from the jetty influence the BOG generation.