25 Years of BBC/ABB/Alstom Lean Premix Combustion Technologies

2005 ◽  
Vol 129 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Döbbeling ◽  
Jaan Hellat ◽  
Hans Koch
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Premix Combustion ◽  
Exhaust Stream ◽  
Diffusion Burner

The paper will show the development of lean premix combustion technologies in BBC, ABB, and Alstom gas turbines. Different technologies have been developed and applied in Brown Boveri Company (BBC) before 1990. Considerable improvements with respect to NOx emissions as compared to gas turbines with a single combustor and a single diffusion burner for liquid and gaseous fuel have been achieved with burners with extended premixing sections and with multi-injection burners for annular combustors. Between 1990 and 2005, burners with short but effective premixing zones (EV burners: environmentally friendly V-shaped burners) have been implemented in all new gas turbines of the ABB (and later Alstom) fleet with NOx levels well below 25 vppmd (@15% O2). In addition to this, three variants of premix technologies have been successfully developed and deployed into Alstom GT engines: the sequential EV burners—a technology that allows premixing of natural gas and oil into a hot exhaust stream to reheat the exhaust gases of a first high-pressure turbine; the MBtu EV burners that are used to burn syngas in a premix flame with low NOx emissions; and the advanced EV burners (AEV) that are capable to prevaporize and premix liquid fuel prior to combustion and burn it with very low NOx emissions without water injection. The paper will give an overview of these technologies and their usage in Alstom gas turbines over the last 25years.

25 Years of BBC/ABB/Alstom Lean Premix Combustion Technologies

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Do¨bbeling ◽  
Jaan Hellat ◽  
Hans Koch
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
High Pressure Turbine ◽  
Environmental Friendly ◽  
Premix Combustion ◽  
Exhaust Stream ◽  
Diffusion Burner

The paper will show the development of lean premix combustion technologies in BBC, ABB and Alstom gas turbines. Different technologies have been developed and applied in Brown Boveri Company (BBC) before 1990. Considerable improvements with respect to NOx emissions as compared to gas turbines with a single combustor and a single diffusion burner for liquid and gaseous fuel have been achieved with burners with extended premixing sections and with multi injection burners for annular combustors. Between 1990 and 2005 burners with short but effective premixing zones (EV burners: environmental friendly V-shaped burners) have been implemented in all new gas turbines of the ABB (and later Alstom) fleet with NOx levels well below 25 vppmd (@15%O2). In addition to this, three variants of premix technologies have been successfully developed and deployed into Alstom GT engines: the sequential EV burners — a technology that allows premixing of natural gas and oil into a hot exhaust stream to reheat the exhaust gases of a first high pressure turbine; the MBtu EV burners that are used to burn syngas in a premix flame with low NOx emissions; and the advanced EV burners (AEV) that are capable to prevaporize and premix liquid fuel prior to combustion and burn it with very low NOx emissions without water injection. The paper will give an overview of these technologies and their usage in Alstom gas turbines over the last 25 years.

scholarly journals Conversion of Liquid to Gaseous Fuel for Prevaporised Premixed Combustion in Gas Turbines

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Wang ◽  
L. Reh ◽  
D. Pennell ◽  
D. Winkler ◽  
K. Döbbeling
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Premixed Combustion ◽  
Fuel Oil ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Combustion Tests

Stationary gas turbines for power generation are increasingly being equipped with low emission burners. By applying lean premixed combustion techniques for gaseous fuels both NOx and CO emissions can be reduced to extremely low levels (NOx emissions <25vppm, CO emissions <10vppm). Likewise, if analogous premix techniques can be applied to liquid fuels (diesel oil, Oil No.2, etc.) in gas-fired burners, similar low level emissions when burning oils are possible. For gas turbines which operate with liquid fuel or in dual fuel operation, VPL (Vaporised Premixed Lean)-combustion is essential for obtaining minimal NOx-emissions. An option is to vaporise the liquid fuel in a separate fuel vaporiser and subsequently supply the fuel vapour to the natural gas fuel injection system; this has not been investigated for gas turbine combustion in the past. This paper presents experimental results of atmospheric and high-pressure combustion tests using research premix burners running on vaporised liquid fuel. The following processes were investigated: • evaporation and partial decomposition of the liquid fuel (Oil No.2); • utilisation of low pressure exhaust gases to externally heat the high pressure fuel vaporiser; • operation of ABB premix-burners (EV burners) with vaporised Oil No.2; • combustion characteristics at pressures up to 25bar. Atmospheric VPL-combustion tests using Oil No.2 in ABB EV-burners under simulated gas turbine conditions have successfully produced emissions of NOx below 20vppm and of CO below 10vppm (corrected to 15% O2). 5vppm of these NOx values result from fuel bound nitrogen. Little dependence of these emissions on combustion pressure bas been observed. The techniques employed also ensured combustion with a stable non luminous (blue) flame during transition from gaseous to vaporised fuel. Additionally, no soot accumulation was detectable during combustion.

scholarly journals Development and Integration of the Dual Fuel Combustion System for the MGT Gas Turbine Family

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Ćosić ◽  
Frank Reiß ◽  
Marc Blümer ◽  
Christian Frekers ◽  
Franklin Genin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Flame Stabilization ◽  
Experimental Investigations ◽  
Dual Fuel ◽  
Combustion System

Abstract Industrial gas turbines like the MGT6000 are often operated as power supply or as mechanical drives for pumps and compressors at remote locations on islands and in deserts. Moreover, small gas turbines are used in CHP applications with a high need for availability. In these applications, liquid fuels like ‘Diesel Fuel No. 2’ can be used either as main fuel or as backup fuel if natural gas is not reliably available. The MAN Gas Turbines (MGT) operate with the Advanced Can Combustion (ACC) system, which is already capable of ultra-low NOx emissions for a variety of gaseous fuels. This system has been further developed to provide dry dual fuel capability to the MGT family. In the present paper, we describe the design and detailed experimental validation process of the liquid fuel injection, and its integration into the gas turbine package. A central lance with an integrated two-stage nozzle is employed as a liquid pilot stage, enabling ignition and start-up of the engine on liquid fuel only, without the need for any additional atomizing air. The pilot stage is continuously operated to support further the flame stabilization across the load range, whereas the bulk of the liquid fuel is injected through the premixed combustor stage. The premixed stage comprises a set of four decentralized nozzles placed at the exit of the main air swirler. These premixed nozzles are based on fluidic oscillator atomizers, wherein a rapid and effective atomization of the liquid fuel is achieved through self-induced oscillations of the liquid fuel stream. We present results of numerical and experimental investigations performed in the course of the development process illustrating the spray, hydrodynamic, and thermal performance of the pilot injectors. Extensive testing of the burner at atmospheric and full load high-pressure conditions has been performed, before verification of the whole combustion system within full engine tests. The burner shows excellent emission performance (NOx, CO, UHC, soot) without additional water injection, while maintaining the overall natural gas performance. Soot and particle emissions, quantified via several methods, are well below legal restrictions. Furthermore, when not in liquid fuel operation, a continuous purge of the injectors based on compressor outlet (p2) air has been laid out. Generic atmospheric coking tests were conducted before verifying the purge system in full engine tests. Thereby we completely avoid the need for an additional high-pressure auxiliary compressor or demineralized water. We show the design of the fuel supply and distribution system. We designed it to allow for rapid fuel switchovers from gaseous fuel to liquid fuel, and for sharp load jumps. Finally, we discuss the integration of the dual fuel system into the standard gas turbine package of the MGT6000 in detail.

Burner Development for Flexible Engine Operation of the Newest Siemens Gas Turbines

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Prade ◽  
Ju¨rgen Meisl ◽  
Peter Berenbrink ◽  
Holger Streb ◽  
Stefan Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Liquid Fuel ◽  
Fuel Quality ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Combustion System ◽  
Engine Operation ◽  
Water Emulsion ◽  
Combustion Dynamics ◽  
Wide Range

The newest Siemens gas turbine family has already been well received by the market. Nevertheless, the market drives continuing development of the family and the combustion system. Central focus is put on further increasing reliability and component lifetime and on increased inspection cycles, as well as increasing the engine power output and efficiency, which is directly linked to higher turbine inlet temperatures. Increasing attention, however, is given to the flexibility concerning fuel quality and according fluctuations. Additionally, more and more strict emission requirements must be considered. This paper especially reports on demonstration of the capability of the Siemens gas turbines with an annular combustion system to fulfil the requirements for the highest operational flexibility. Thus, the combustion system has been tested and qualified for the highest operating flexibility with special fuel requirements such as burning Naphtha, Light Oil #2 and Natural gas with an extremely wide range of heating values as well. Also special operation modes such as fuel changeover, fastest load changes for island grid operation, frequency response and load rejection require this highly flexible combustion system without any hardware exchange. In different frames when fired with natural gas, base load is reached with the NOx emissions ranging well below 25 ppmvd, confirming the high potential of this advanced hybrid burner. In liquid fuel operation, dry NOx emissions of 75ppmvd were demonstrated but by injecting fuel / water emulsion NOx emissions were reduced to below 42 ppmvd with different liquid fuel qualities. Combustion dynamics, unburned Hydrocarbons, CO and soot emissions remained always below the required limits.

The Effect of Water Injection for Emissions Control on Industrial Gas Turbine Combustors

1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Antos ◽  
W. C. Emmerling
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Mechanical Design ◽  
Water Injection ◽  
Combustion Process ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbines ◽  
Comprehensive Test ◽  
Industrial Gas Turbine

One common method of reducing the NOx emissions from industrial gas turbines is to inject water into the combustion process. The amount of water injected depends on the emissions rules that apply to a particular unit. Westinghouse W501B industrial gas turbines have been operated at water injection levels required to meet EPA NOx emissions regulations. They also have been operated at higher injection levels required to meet stricter California regulations. Operation at the lower rates of water did not affect combustor inspection and/or repair intervals. Operation on liquid fuels with high rates of water also did not result in premature distress. However, operation on gas fuel at high rates of water did cause premature distress in the combustors. To evaluate this phenomenon, a comprehensive test program was conducted; it demonstrated that the distress is the result of the temperature patterns in the combustor caused by the high rates of water. The test also indicated that there is no significant change in dynamic response levels in the combustor. This paper presents the test results, and the design features selected to substantially improve combustor wall temperature when operating on gas fuels, with the high rates of water injection required to meet California applications. Mechanical design features that improve combustor resistance to water injection-induced thermal gradients also are presented.

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Influence of Gas Injection Rate Shape on High-Pressure Direct-Injection Natural Gas Marine Engines

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 2571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingrui Li ◽  
Jietuo Wang ◽  
Teng Liu ◽  
Jingjin Dong ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Gas Injection ◽  
Injection Rate ◽  
Emission Characteristics ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Indicated Mean Effective Pressure ◽  
Marine Engines

High-pressure direct-injection (HPDI) natural gas marine engines are widely used because of their higher thermal efficiency and lower emissions. The effects of different injection rate shapes on the combustion and emission characteristics were studied to explore the appropriate gas injection rate shapes for a low-speed HPDI natural gas marine engine. A single-cylinder model was established and the CFD model was validated against experimental data from the literature; then, the combustion and emission characteristics of five different injection rate shapes were analyzed. The results showed that the peak values of in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate profiles of the triangle shape were highest due to the highest maximum injection rate, which occurred in a phase close to the top dead center. The shorter combustion duration of the triangle shape led to higher indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) and NOx emissions compared with other shapes. The higher initial injection rates of the rectangle and slope shapes had a negative effect on the ignition delay periods of pilot fuel, which resulted in lower in-cylinder temperature and NOx emissions. However, due to the lower in-cylinder temperature, the engine power output was also lower. Otherwise, soot, unburned hydrocarbon (UHC), and CO emissions and indicated specific fuel consumption (ISFC) increased for both rectangle and slope shapes. The trapezoid and wedge shapes achieved a good balance between fuel consumption and emissions.

Design Study of an Advanced Concept Simple Gas Turbine for Possible Use in Low Emission Automobiles

1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. C. Eatock ◽  
M. D. Stoten
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Simple Cycle ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Preliminary Design ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
High Pressure Ratio

United Aircraft Corporation studied the potential costs of various possible gas turbine engines which might be used to reduce automobile exhaust emissions. As part of that study, United Aircraft of Canada undertook the preliminary design and performance analysis of high-pressure-ratio nonregenerated (simple cycle) gas turbine engines. For the first time, high levels of single-stage component efficiency are available extending from a pressure ratio less than 4 up to 10 or 12 to 1. As a result, the study showed that the simple-cycle engine may provide satisfactory running costs with significantly lower manufacturing costs and NOx emissions than a regenerated engine. In this paper some features of the preliminary design of both single-shaft and a free power turbine version of this engine are examined. The major component technology assumptions, in particular the high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor, employed for performance extrapolation are explained and compared with current technology. The potential low NOx emissions of the simple-cycle gas turbine compared to regenerative or recuperative gas turbines is discussed. Finally, some of the problems which might be encountered in using this totally different power plant for the conventional automobile are identified.

Assessment of the Indirect Combustion Noise Generated in a Transonic High-Pressure Turbine Stage

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitrios Papadogiannis ◽  
Florent Duchaine ◽  
Laurent Gicquel ◽  
Gaofeng Wang ◽  
Stéphane Moreau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Guide Vane ◽  
Combustion Noise ◽  
Dynamic Mode Decomposition ◽  
Dynamic Mode ◽  
Noise Generation ◽  
Turbine Stage ◽  
High Pressure Turbine

Indirect combustion noise, generated by the acceleration and distortion of entropy waves through the turbine stages, has been shown to be the dominant noise source of gas turbines at low-frequencies and to impact the thermoacoustic behavior of the combustor. In the present work, indirect combustion noise generation is evaluated in the realistic, fully 3D transonic high-pressure turbine stage MT1 using Large-Eddy Simulations (LES). An analysis of the basic flow and the different turbine noise generation mechanisms is performed for two configurations: one with a steady inflow and a second with a pulsed inlet, where a plane entropy wave train at a given frequency is injected before propagating across the stage generating indirect noise. The noise is evaluated through the Dynamic Mode Decomposition of the flow field. It is compared with previous 2D simulations of a similar stator/rotor configuration, as well as with the compact theory of Cumpsty and Marble. Results show that the upstream propagating entropy noise is reduced due to the choked turbine nozzle guide vane. Downstream acoustic waves are found to be of similar strength to the 2D case, highlighting the potential impact of indirect combustion noise on the overall noise signature of the engine.

Sequential Combustion in Gas Turbines: The Key Technology for Burning High Hydrogen Contents With Low Emissions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko R. Bothien ◽  
Andrea Ciani ◽  
John P. Wood ◽  
Gerhard Fruechtel
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Tuning Parameter ◽  
High Hydrogen ◽  
Stable Combustion ◽  
Second Stage ◽  
In Series ◽  
Exit Temperature

Abstract Excess energy generation from renewables can be conveniently stored as hydrogen for later use as a gas turbine fuel. Also, the strategy to sequestrate CO2 from natural gas will require gas turbines to run with hydrogen-based fuels. In such scenarios, high temperature low emission combustion of hydrogen is a key requirement for the future gas turbine market. Ansaldo Energia’s gas turbines featuring sequential combustion have an intrinsic advantage when it comes to fuel flexibility and in particular hydrogen-based fuels. The sequential combustion system is composed of two complementary combustion stages in series: one premix stage followed by an auto-ignited second stage overcoming the limits of traditional premix combustion systems through a highly effective extra tuning parameter, i.e. the temperature between the first and the second stage. The standard Constant Pressure Sequential Combustion (CPSC) system as applied in the GT36 engine is tested, at high pressure, demonstrating that a modified operation concept allows stable combustion with no changes in combustor hardware for the whole range of natural gas and hydrogen blends. It is shown that in the range from 0% to 70% (vol.) hydrogen, stable combustion is achieved at full nominal exit temperature, i.e. without any derating and thus clearly outperforming other available conventional premixed combustors. Operation between 70% and 100% is possible as well and only requires a mild reduction of the combustor exit temperature. By proving the transferability of the single-can high pressure results to the engine, this paper demonstrates the practicality of operating the Ansaldo Energia GT36 H-Class gas turbine on fuels containing unprecedented concentrations of hydrogen while maintaining excellent performance and low emissions both in terms of NOx and CO2.

Laminar Flame Speed Measurements and Modeling of Pure Alkanes and Alkane Blends at Elevated Pressures

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
William Lowry ◽  
Jaap de Vries ◽  
Michael Krejci ◽  
Eric Petersen ◽  
Zeynep Serinyel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Laminar Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Laminar Flame Speed ◽  
Binary Blends ◽  
Elevated Pressures ◽  
True Value

Alkanes such as methane, ethane, and propane make up a large portion of most natural gas fuels. Natural gas is the primary fuel used in industrial gas turbines for power generation. Because of this, a fundamental understanding of the physical characteristics such as the laminar flame speed is necessary. Most importantly, this information is needed at elevated pressures to have the most relevance to the gas turbine industry for engine design. This study includes experiments performed at elevated pressures, up to 10 atm initial pressure, and investigates the fuels in a pure form as well as in binary blends. Flame speed modeling was done using an improved version of the kinetics model that the authors have been developing over the past few years. Modeling was performed for a wide range of conditions, including elevated pressures. Experimental conditions include pure methane, pure ethane, 80/20 mixtures of methane/ethane, and 60/40 mixtures of methane/ethane at initial pressures of 1 atm, 5 atm, and 10 atm. Also included in this study are pure propane and 80/20 methane/propane mixtures at 1 atm and 5 atm. The laminar flame speed and Markstein length measurements were obtained from a high-pressure flame speed facility using a constant-volume vessel. The facility includes optical access, a high-speed camera, a schlieren optical setup, a mixing manifold, and an isolated control room. The experiments were performed at room temperature, and the resulting images were analyzed using linear regression. The experimental and modeling results are presented and compared with previously published data. The data herein agree well with the published data. In addition, a hybrid correlation was created to perform a rigorous uncertainty analysis. This correlation gives the total uncertainty of the experiment with respect to the true value rather than reporting the standard deviation of a repeated experiment. Included in the data set are high-pressure results at conditions where in many cases for the single-component fuels few data existed and for the binary blends no data existed prior to this study. Overall, the agreement between the model and data is excellent.

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