Numerical Study on the Reduction of NOx Emissions From Pulse Detonation Combustion

2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neda Djordjevic ◽  
Niclas Hanraths ◽  
Joshua Gray ◽  
Phillip Berndt ◽  
Jonas Moeck
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Primary Methods ◽  
Detonation Cell ◽  
Pulse Detonation ◽  
Detonation Combustion

A change in the combustion concept of gas turbines from conventional isobaric to constant volume combustion, such as in pulse detonation combustion (PDC), promises a significant increase in gas turbine efficiency. Current research focuses on the realization of reliable PDC operation and its challenging integration into a gas turbine. The topic of pollutant emissions from such systems has so far received very little attention. Few rare studies indicate that the extreme combustion conditions in PDC systems can lead to high emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Therefore, it is essential already at this stage of development to begin working on primary measures for NOx emissions reduction if commercialization is to be feasible. The present study evaluates the potential of different primary methods for reducing NOx emissions produced during PDC of hydrogen. The considered primary methods involve utilization of lean combustion mixtures or its dilution by steam injection or exhaust gas recirculation. The influence of such measures on the detonability of the combustion mixture has been evaluated based on detonation cell sizes modeled with detailed chemistry. For the mixtures and operating conditions featuring promising detonability, NOx formation in the detonation wave has been simulated by solving the one-dimensional (1D) reacting Euler equations. The study enables an insight into the potential and limitations of considered measures for NOx emissions reduction and lays the groundwork for optimized operation of PDC systems.

Numerical Study on the Reduction of NOx Emissions From Pulse Detonation Combustion

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neda Djordjevic ◽  
Niclas Hanraths ◽  
Joshua Gray ◽  
Phillip Berndt ◽  
Jonas Moeck
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Primary Methods ◽  
Detonation Cell ◽  
Pulse Detonation ◽  
Detonation Combustion

A change in the combustion concept of gas turbines from conventional isobaric to constant volume combustion (CVC), such as in pulse detonation combustion (PDC), promises a significant increase in gas turbine efficiency. Current research focuses on the realization of reliable PDC operation and its challenging integration into a gas turbine. The topic of pollutant emissions from such systems has so far received very little attention. Few rare studies indicate that the extreme combustion conditions in PDC systems can lead to high emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Therefore, it is essential already at this stage of development to begin working on primary measures for NOx emissions reduction, if commercialization is to be feasible. The present study evaluates the potential of different primary methods for reducing NOx emissions produced during pulsed detonation combustion of hydrogen. The considered primary methods involve utilization of lean combustion mixtures or its dilution by steam injection or exhaust gas recirculation. The influence of such measures on the detonability of the combustion mixture has been evaluated based on detonation cell sizes modelled with detailed chemistry. For the mixtures and operating conditions featuring promising detonability, NOx formation in the detonation wave has been simulated by solving the one-dimensional reacting Euler equations. The study enables an insight into the potential and limitations of considered measures for NOx emissions reduction and lays the groundwork for optimized operation of pulse detonation combustion systems.

Numerical Study on NOx Reduction in Pulse Detonation Combustion by Using Steam Injection Decoupled From Detonation Development

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niclas Hanraths ◽  
Fabian Tolkmitt ◽  
Phillip Berndt ◽  
Neda Djordjevic
Keyword(s):  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Nox Reduction ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Reliable Operation ◽  
Detonation Cell ◽  
Pulse Detonation ◽  
Detonation Combustion ◽  
Reduction Methods

Recently, the focus has been laid on the characteristics of pollutant emissions from pulse detonation combustion. Initial studies indicate possibly high nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, so the assessment of potential primary reduction methods is advisable. The present work considers the following reduction methods: lean combustion, nitrogen and steam dilution as well as flue gas recirculation. Since such changes in the combustion mixture reduce its reactivity and thus detonability, they can impair a reliable operation in technical systems. In order to explore the potential and limitations of each of these reduction methods, they are compared for mixtures featuring an identical characteristic detonation cell size at given initial conditions. Furthermore, building upon the use of steam dilution, a modified method to add steam to the combustible mixture is investigated. In order to avoid the strong reduction of mixture detonability by steam addition and ensure a robust detonation formation, steam is injected into the already developed detonation front. It was found that, for sufficiently even steam distribution, NOx reduction comparable to a premixed dilution could be achieved. This approach enables the realization of NOx reduction in pulse detonation combustion also for such conditions, for which premix dilution is not feasible. Therefore, combining the premix dilution with post-shock injection offers a promising strategy to substantially reduce NOx emissions from pulse detonation combustion, while at the same time ensuring its reliable operation.

Numerical Study on NOx Reduction in Pulse Detonation Combustion by Using Steam Injection Decoupled From Detonation Development

2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Niclas Hanraths ◽  
Fabian Tolkmitt ◽  
Phillip Berndt ◽  
Neda Djordjevic
Keyword(s):  
Initial Conditions ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Nox Reduction ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Reliable Operation ◽  
Detonation Cell ◽  
Pulse Detonation ◽  
Detonation Combustion ◽  
Reduction Methods

Recently, the focus has been laid on the characteristics of pollutant emissions from pulse detonation combustion (PDC). Initial studies indicate possibly high nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, so the assessment of potential primary reduction methods is advisable. The present work considers the following reduction methods: lean combustion, nitrogen and steam dilution, as well as flue gas recirculation. Since such changes in the combustion mixture reduce its reactivity and thus detonability, they can impair a reliable operation in technical systems. In order to explore the potential and limitations of each of these reduction methods, they are compared for mixtures featuring an identical characteristic detonation cell size at given initial conditions. Furthermore, building upon the use of steam dilution, a modified method to add steam to the combustible mixture is investigated. In order to avoid the strong reduction of mixture detonability by steam addition and ensure a robust detonation formation, steam is injected into the already developed detonation front. It was found that, for sufficiently even steam distribution, NOx reduction comparable to a premixed dilution could be achieved. This approach enables the realization of NOx reduction in PDC also for such conditions, for which premix dilution is not feasible. Therefore, combining the premix dilution with postshock injection offers a promising strategy to substantially reduce NOx emissions from PDC, while at the same time ensuring its reliable operation.

NOx Emissions Reduction in an Innovative Industrial Gas Turbine Combustor (GE10 Machine): A Numerical Study of the Benefits of a New Pilot-System on Flame Structure and Emissions

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Andreini ◽  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
Luca Mangani ◽  
Antonio Asti ◽  
Gianni Ceccherini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Flame Structure ◽  
Combustion Model ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Minimal Amount ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Wide Range

One of the driving requirements in gas turbine design is emissions reduction. In the mature markets (especially the North America), permits to install new gas turbines are granted provided emissions meet more and more restrictive requirements, in a wide range of ambient temperatures and loads. To meet such requirements, design techniques have to take advantage also of the most recent CFD tools. As a successful example of this, this paper reports the results of a reactive 3D numerical study of a single-can combustor for the GE10 machine, recently updated by GE-Energy. This work aims to evaluate the benefits on the flame shape and on NOx emissions of a new pilot-system located on the upper part of the liner. The former GE10 combustor is equipped with fuel-injecting-holes realizing purely diffusive pilot-flames. To reduce NOx emissions from the current 25 ppmvd@15%O2 to less than 15 ppmvd@15%O2 (in the ambient temperature range from −28.9°C to +37.8°C and in the load range from 50% and 100%), the new version of the combustor is equipped with 4 swirler-burners realizing lean-premixed pilot flames; these flames in turn are stabilized by a minimal amount of lean-diffusive sub-pilot-fuel. The overall goal of this new configuration is the reduction of the fraction of fuel burnt in diffusive flames, lowering peak temperatures and therefore NOx emissions. To analyse the new flame structure and to check the emissions reduction, a reactive RANS study was performed using STAR-CD™ package. A user-defined combustion model was used, while to estimate NOx emissions a specific scheme was also developed. Three different ambient temperatures (ISO, −28.9°C and 37.8°C) were simulated. Results were then compared with experimental measurements (taken both from the engine and from the rig), resulting in reasonable agreement. Finally, an additional simulation with an advanced combustion model, based on the laminar flamelet approach, was performed. The model is based on the G-Equation scheme but was modified to study partially premixed flames. A geometric procedure to solve G-Equation was implemented as add-on in STAR-CD™.

Numerical Simulation for the Preliminary Design of Fuel Flexible Stationary Gas Turbine Combustors Using Conventional and Alternative Fuels

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Washington Orlando Irrazabal Bohorquez ◽  
João Roberto Barbosa ◽  
Rob Johan Maria Bastiaans ◽  
Philip de Goey
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Alternative Fuels ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Primary Zone

Currently, high efficiency and low emissions are most important requisites for the design of modern gas turbines due to the strong environmental restrictions around the world. In the past years, alternative fuels have been considered for application in industrial gas turbines. Therefore, combustor performance, pollutant emissions and the ability to burn several fuels became of much concern and high priority has been given to the combustor design. This paper describes a methodology focused on the design of stationary gas turbines combustion chambers with the ability to efficiently burn conventional and alternative fuels. A simplified methodology is used for the calculations of the equilibrium temperature and chemical species in the primary zone of a gas turbine combustor. Direct fuel injection and diffusion flames, together with numerical methods like Newton-Raphson, LU Factorization and Lagrange Polynomials, are used for the calculations. Diesel, ethanol and methanol fuels were chosen for the numerical study. A computer code sequentially calculates the main geometry of the combustor. From the numerical simulation it is concluded that the basic gas turbine combustor geometry, for some operating conditions and burning diesel, ethanol or methanol, are of similar sizes, because the development of aerodynamic characteristics predominate over the thermochemical properties. It is worth to note that the type of fuel has a marked effect on the stability and combustion advancement in the combustor. This can be seen when the primary zone is analyzed under a steady-state operating condition. At full power, the pressure is 1.8 MPa and the temperature 1,000 K at the combustor inlet. Then, the equivalence ratios in the primary zone are 1.3933 (diesel), 1.4352 (ethanol) and 1.3977 (methanol) and the equilibrium temperatures for the same operating conditions are 2,809 K (diesel), 2,754 K (ethanol) and 2,702 K (methanol). This means that the combustor can reach similar flame stability conditions, whereas the combustion efficiency will require richer fuel/air mixtures of ethanol or methanol are burnt instead of diesel. Another important result from the numerical study is that the concentration of the main pollutants (CO, CO2, NO, NO2) is reduced when ethanol or methanol are burnt, in place of diesel.

Development of a Low NOx Combustor for 300kW-Class Ceramic Gas Turbine (CGT302)

1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Okuto ◽  
T. Kimura ◽  
I. Takehara ◽  
T. Nakashima ◽  
Y. Ichikawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Development Project ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Outlet Temperature ◽  
Nox Emissions

Research and development project of ceramic gas turbines (CGT) was started in 1988 promoted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) in Japan. The target of the CGT project is development of a 300kW-class ceramic gas turbine with a 42 % thermal efficiency and a turbine inlet temperature (TIT) of 1350°C. Three types of CGT engines are developed in this project. One of the CGT engines, which is called CGT302, is a recuperated two-shaft gas turbine for co-generation use. In this paper, we describe the research and development of a combustor for the CGT302. The project requires a combustor to exhaust lower pollutant emissions than the Japanese regulation level. In order to reduce NOx emissions and achieve high combustion efficiency, lean premixed combustion technology is adopted. Combustion rig tests were carried out using this combustor. In these tests we measured the combustor performance such as pollutant emissions, combustion efficiency, combustor inlet/outlet temperature, combustor inlet pressure and pressure loss through combustor. Of course air flow rate and fuel flow rate are controlled and measured, respectively. The targets for the combustor such as NOx emissions and combustion efficiency were accomplished with sufficient margin in these combustion rig tests. In addition, we report the results of the tests which were carried out to examine effects of inlet air pressure on NOx emissions here.

Boundary Layer Flashback Prediction for Turbulent Premixed Jet Flames: Comparison of Two Models

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Kalantari ◽  
Nicolas Auwaijan ◽  
Vincent McDonell
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Turbulent Flame ◽  
Flame Speed ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Jet Flames ◽  
Turbulent Flame Speed ◽  
Turbulent Premixed

Abstract Lean-premixed combustion is commonly used in gas turbines to achieve low pollutant emissions, in particular nitrogen oxides. But use of hydrogen-rich fuels in premixed systems can potentially lead to flashback. Adding significant amounts of hydrogen to fuel mixtures substantially impacts the operating range of the combustor. Hence, to incorporate high hydrogen content fuels into gas turbine power generation systems, flashback limits need to be determined at relevant conditions. The present work compares two boundary layer flashback prediction methods developed for turbulent premixed jet flames. The Damköhler model was developed at University of California Irvine (UCI) and evaluated against flashback data from literature including actual engines. The second model was developed at Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI) using data obtained at gas turbine premixer conditions and is based on turbulent flame speed. Despite different overall approaches used, both models characterize flashback in terms of similar parameters. The Damköhler model takes into account the effect of thermal coupling and predicts flashback limits within a reasonable range. But the turbulent flame speed model provides a good agreement for a cooled burner, but shows less agreement for uncooled burner conditions. The impact of hydrogen addition (0 to 100% by volume) to methane or carbon monoxide is also investigated at different operating conditions and flashback prediction trends are consistent with the existing data at atmospheric pressure.

Decarbonization Advancements in Pressure Pumping With Gas Turbines

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Mantini ◽  
Steven Goldstein ◽  
Colleen Rimlinger
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Emissions Reduction ◽  
Dual Fuel ◽  
Permian Basin ◽  
Fuel Blend ◽  
Industry Studies ◽  
Associated Gas

Abstract Key changes have triggered the push for frac fleet innovation. With environmental regulation efforts to cut down on emissions increasing, more and more companies are transitioning to the use of electric fleet equipment. Electric fleets use natural gas, which burns cleaner than diesel fuel. Our study found the gas turbine outperformed Tier 4 dual fuel blend (DF) reciprocating engines and demonstrated a step change improvement in both direct and indirect emissions reductions over the 20+ year lifecycle of the Baker Hughes LM2500 in Permian and Williston Basins’ field operating conditions. An even greater impact to direct GHG (as CO2 equivalent) emissions reduction came to light when the potential to reduce flaring of associated gas was considered. Gas turbines have been proven to have the best-in-class emissions for powering pressure pumping fleets and lead the industry on fuel cost savings and in achieving commitments to reduce carbon emissions in places like the Permian Basin in Texas and remote areas across the world. Though, recent industry studies abominably suggest that Tier 4 diesel and Tier 4 dual fuel (DF) engine technologies offer an alternative with emissions benefits in comparison to current gas turbine offerings this study demonstrate the contrary.

Design of a Non-Reactive Warm Rig With Real Lean-Premix Combustor Swirlers and Film-Cooled First Stage Nozzles

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Cubeda ◽  
Tommaso Bacci ◽  
Lorenzo Mazzei ◽  
Simone Salvadori ◽  
Bruno Facchini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Field ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Design Practices ◽  
Standard Design ◽  
Real Hardware ◽  
Heavy Duty Gas Turbine

Abstract Modern industrial gas turbines typically employ lean-premix combustors, which can limit pollutant emissions thanks to premixed flames, while sustaining high turbine inlet temperatures that increase the single-cycle thermal efficiency. As such, gas-turbine first stage nozzles can be characterized by a highly-swirled and temperature-distorted inlet flow field. However, due to several sources of uncertainty during the design phase, wide safety margins are commonly adopted, having a direct impact on engine performance and efficiency. Therefore, aiming at increasing the knowledge on combustor-turbine interaction and improving standard design practices, a non-reactive test rig composed of real hardware was assembled at the University of Florence, Italy. The rig, accommodating three lean-premix swirlers within a combustion chamber and two first stage film-cooled nozzles of a Baker Hughes heavy-duty gas turbine, is operated in similitude conditions. The rig has been designed to reproduce the real engine periodic flow field on the central vane channel, also allowing for measurements far enough from the lateral walls. The periodicity condition on the central sector was achieved by the proper design of both the angular profile and pitch value of the tailboards with respect to the vanes, which was carried out in a preliminary phase via a Design of Experiments procedure. In addition, circular ducts needed to be installed at the injectors outlet section to preserve the non-reactive swirling flow down to the nozzles’ inlet plane. The combustor-turbine interface section has been experimentally characterized in nominal operating conditions as per the temperature, velocity and pressure fields by means of a five-hole pressure probe provided with a thermocouple, installed on an automatic traverse system. To study the evolution of the combustor outlet flow through the vanes and its interaction with the film-cooling flow, such measurements have been replicated also downstream of the vanes’ trailing edge. This work allowed for designing and providing preliminary data on a combustor simulator capable of equipping and testing real hardware film-cooled nozzles of a heavy-duty gas turbine. Ultimately, the activity sets the basis for an extensive test campaign aimed at characterizing the metal temperature, film effectiveness and heat transfer coefficient at realistic aerothermal conditions. In addition, and by leveraging experimental data, this activity paves the way for a detailed validation of current design practices as well as more advanced numerical methodologies such as Scale-Adaptive Simulations of the integrated combustor-turbine domain.

Systems Level Performance Estimations for a Pulse Detonation Combustor Based Hybrid Engine

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkat E. Tangirala ◽  
Narendra D. Joshi
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Compression Ratio ◽  
Thermal Efficiency ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Entire Range ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Simple Cycle ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Specific Work ◽  
Pulse Detonation

The Pulse Detonation Combustor (PDC) has recently evoked much interest as a pressure-gain combustor for use in gas turbines. A key application for a Pulse Detonation Engine (PDE) concept has been envisioned as a hybrid power generation engine, which would replace the combustor in a conventional gas turbine with a PDC. Estimations of performance parameters, namely, thermal efficiency (ηth) and specific work (Wnet) are reported for a PDC based hybrid engine for various configurations of the engine. The performance enhancing configurations of the PDC-based hybrid engine, considered in the present study, include simple cycle, intercooling, regeneration and reheat, similar to the configurations for a conventional gas turbine (GT) engine in the literature. The performance estimations for a conventional gas turbine engine and a PDC based hybrid engine are compared for the same operating conditions (such as inlet pressure, inlet temperature, compression ratio, overall equivalence ratio) and for various configurations. The thermal efficiency of an intercooled PDC hybrid engine with regeneration has the highest value for the entire range of turbine pressure ratios, from 1.2 to 40 (corresponding to a compression ratio range of 1 to 30). An intercooled PDC based hybrid engine with reheat produces the highest specific work (Wnet) when compared to all other configurations. Among simple-cycle /regeneration /reheat configurations of a PDC based hybrid engine, ητh for the intercooled PDC based hybrid engines has the highest estimated value (0.47) at a turbine pressure ratio of 30. The intercooled PDC based hybrid engine also produces the highest specific work (Wnet) when compared to simple-cycle/regeneration/reheat hybrid engine configurations over the entire range of turbine pressure ratios.

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