The Development of an Ultra Low Emissions Liquid Fuel Combustor for the OPRA OP16 Gas Turbine

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sikke Klein ◽  
Ivar Austrem ◽  
Jan Mowill
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Single Digit ◽  
Combustion Dynamics ◽  
Injection Nozzle ◽  
Fuel Nozzle ◽  
Pressure Swirl

During the last few years OPRA has been working intensively on the development of an ultra low emissions combustor for the OP16 gas turbine. The main focus has been on the combustion of liquid fuels (diesel fuel #2), but a natural gas and a dual fuel system has also been developed. The most important aspect of the development has been the patented Controlled Fuel Air Ratio (COFAR) system incorporating the venturi premixer, the air valve and the fuel injection nozzle. The original diesel fuel injection nozzle of the OP16 was a hybrid design, comprising a pressure swirl central injector surrounded by a classic air-blast atomizer. While the emissions with this fuel nozzle were quite good (30 ppm up to 85% load), subsequent natural gas tests demonstrating single digit emissions, while running at a higher average flame temperature indicated that there was scope for improvement of the fuel preparation system. It was clear that atomization, evaporation and mixing of the diesel fuel could be further improved. For better understanding of the combustion of diesel fuel, an atomization and mixing model was developed, to study the quality of the fuel/air mixture leaving the pre-mixer. Based on the results of this study, a fuel nozzle system, using multipoint injection with small pressure swirl nozzles was selected. Three different sets of atomizers have been evaluated and a nozzle arrangement comprising five identical pressure swirl nozzles showed the best results. The emissions on diesel fuel with the new injector proved very satisfactory. The NOx concentration was kept below 25 ppm from 50% load up to 90% load and below 30 ppm at full load. CO and UHC were well below 10 ppm. These low emissions were achieved by running at a low flame temperature (below 1820K). Furthermore, no combustion dynamics or flame instability was observed.

A phenomenological combustion analysis of a dual-fuel natural-gas diesel engine

2016 ◽  
Vol 231 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuonan Xu ◽  
David Anderson ◽  
Mark Hoffman ◽  
Robert Prucka ◽  
Zoran Filipi
Keyword(s):  
Diesel Engine ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Heat Release ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Dual Fuel ◽  
Injection Timing ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Engine System ◽  
Wiebe Function

Energy security concerns and an abundant supply of natural gas in the USA provide the impetus for engine designers to consider alternative gaseous fuels in the existing engines. The dual-fuel natural-gas diesel engine concept is attractive because of the minimal design changes, the ability to preserve a high compression ratio of the baseline diesel, and the lack of range anxiety. However, the increased complexity of a dual-fuel engine poses challenges, including the knock limit at a high load, the combustion instability at a low load, and the transient response of an engine with directly injected diesel fuel and port fuel injection of compressed natural gas upstream of the intake manifold. Predictive simulations of the complete engine system are an invaluable tool for investigations of these conditions and development of dual-fuel control strategies. This paper presents the development of a phenomenological combustion model of a heavy-duty dual-fuel engine, aided by insights from experimental data. Heat release analysis is carried out first, using the cylinder pressure data acquired with both diesel-only and dual-fuel (diesel and natural gas) combustion over a wide operating range. A diesel injection timing correlation based on the injector solenoid valve pulse widths is developed, enabling the diesel fuel start of injection to be detected without extra sensors on the fuel injection cam. The experimental heat release trends are obtained with a hybrid triple-Wiebe function for both diesel-only operation and dual-fuel operation. The ignition delay period of dual-fuel operation is examined and estimated with a predictive correlation using the concept of a pseudo-diesel equivalence ratio. A four-stage combustion mechanism is discussed, and it is shown that a triple-Wiebe function has the ability to represent all stages of dual-fuel combustion. This creates a critical building block for modeling a heavy-duty dual-fuel turbocharged engine system.

Fuel Interchangeability for Lean Premixed Combustion in Gas Turbine Engines

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Don Ferguson ◽  
Geo. A. Richard ◽  
Doug Straub
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Dynamic Response ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Turbine Engines ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Gas Turbine Engines ◽  
Lean Premixed Combustion ◽  
Combustion Dynamics ◽  
Rijke Tube ◽  
Fuel Blends

In response to environmental concerns of NOx emissions, gas turbine manufacturers have developed engines that operate under lean, pre-mixed fuel and air conditions. While this has proven to reduce NOx emissions by lowering peak flame temperatures, it is not without its limitations as engines utilizing this technology are more susceptible to combustion dynamics. Although dependent on a number of mechanisms, changes in fuel composition can alter the dynamic response of a given combustion system. This is of particular interest as increases in demand of domestic natural gas have fueled efforts to utilize alternatives such as coal derived syngas, imported liquefied natural gas and hydrogen or hydrogen augmented fuels. However, prior to changing the fuel supply end-users need to understand how their system will respond. A variety of historical parameters have been utilized to determine fuel interchangeability such as Wobbe and Weaver Indices, however these parameters were never optimized for today’s engines operating under lean pre-mixed combustion. This paper provides a discussion of currently available parameters to describe fuel interchangeability. Through the analysis of the dynamic response of a lab-scale Rijke tube combustor operating on various fuel blends, it is shown that commonly used indices are inadequate for describing combustion specific phenomena.

Development of a Phenomenological Combustion Simulation for a Dual Fuel Engine

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yafeng Liu ◽  
Stuart R. Bell ◽  
K. Clark Midkiff
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Air Entrainment ◽  
Dual Fuel ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Cycle Simulation ◽  
Specific Performance ◽  
Combustion Simulation ◽  
Reduce Emissions

Abstract A phenomenological cycle simulation for a dual fuel engine has been developed to mathematically simulate the significant processes of the engine cycle, to predict specific performance parameters for the engine, and to investigate approaches to improve performance and reduce emissions. The simulation employs two zones (crevice and unburned) during the processes of exhaust, intake, compression before fuel injection starts, and expansion after combustion ends. From the start of fuel injection to the end of combustion, several, zones are utilized to account for crevice flow, diesel fuel spray, air entrainment, diesel fuel droplet evaporation, ignition delay, flame propagation, and combustion quenching. The crevice zone absorbs charge gas from the cylinder as pressure increases, and releases mass back into the chamber as pressure decreases. Some crevice mass released during late combustion may not be oxidized, resulting in emissions of hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide. Quenching ahead of the flame front may leave additional charge unburned, yielding high methane emissions. Potential reduction of engine-out NOx emissions with natural gas fueling has also been investigated. The higher substitution of natural gas in the engine produces less engine-out NOx emissions. This paper presents the development of the model, baseline predictions, and comparisons to experimental measurements performed in a single-cylinder Caterpillar 3400 series engine.

Emission and Performance of a Lean-Premixed Gas Fuel Injection System for Aeroderivative Gas Turbine Engines

1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy S. Snyder ◽  
Thomas J. Rosfjord ◽  
John B. McVey ◽  
Aaron S. Hu ◽  
Barry C. Schlein
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Fuel Injection ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Combustion Efficiency ◽  
Injection System ◽  
Test Facility ◽  
Fuel Injection System ◽  
Moderate Pressure ◽  
Single Digit ◽  
Lean Premixed

A dry-low-NOx, high-airflow-capacity fuel injection system for a lean-premixed combustor has been developed for a moderate pressure ratio (20:1) aeroderivative gas turbine engine. Engine requirements for combustor pressure drop, emissions, and operability have been met. Combustion performance was evaluated at high power conditions in a high-pressure, single-nozzle test facility which operates at full baseload conditions. Single digit NOx levels and high combustion efficiency were achieved A wide operability range with no signs of flashback, autoignition, or thermal problems was demonsuated. NOx sensitivities 10 pressure and residence time were found to be small at flame temperatures below 1850 K (2870 F). Above 1850 K some NOx sensitivity to pressure and residence Lime was observed and was associated with the increased role of the thermal NOx production mechanism at elevated flame temperatures.

Design Improvement Survey for NOx Emissions Reduction of a Heavy-Duty Gas Turbine Partially Premixed Fuel Nozzle Operating With Natural Gas: Experimental Campaign

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matteo Cerutti ◽  
Roberto Modi ◽  
Danielle Kalitan ◽  
Kapil K. Singh
Keyword(s):  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Pollutant Emissions ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Fuel Nozzle ◽  
Partially Premixed ◽  
Heavy Duty Gas Turbine ◽  
The Impact

As government regulations become increasingly strict with regards to combustion pollutant emissions, new gas turbine combustor designs must produce lower NOx while also maintaining acceptable combustor operability. The design and implementation of an efficient fuel/air premixer is paramount to achieving low emissions. Options for improving the design of a natural gas fired heavy-duty gas turbine partially premixed fuel nozzle have been considered in the current study. In particular, the study focused on fuel injection and pilot/main interaction at high pressure and high inlet temperature. NOx emissions results have been reported and analyzed for a baseline nozzle first. Available experience is shared in this paper in the form of a NOx correlative model, giving evidence of the consistency of current results with past campaigns. Subsequently, new fuel nozzle premixer designs have been investigated and compared, mainly in terms of NOx emissions performance. The operating range of investigation has been preliminarily checked by means of a flame stability assessment. Adequate margin to lean blow out and thermo-acoustic instabilities onset has been found while also maintaining acceptable CO emissions. NOx emission data were collected over a variety of fuel/air ratios and pilot/main splits for all the fuel nozzle configurations. Results clearly indicated the most effective design option in reducing NOx. In addition, the impact of each design modification has been quantified and the baseline correlative NOx emissions model calibrated to describe the new fuel nozzles behavior. Effect of inlet air pressure has been evaluated and included in the models, allowing the extensive use of less costly reduced pressure test campaigns hereafter. Although the observed effect of combustor pressure drop on NOx is not dominant for this particular fuel nozzle, sensitivity has been performed to consolidate gathered experience and to make the model able to evaluate even small design changes affecting pressure drop.

Full Scale Testing of a Low Swirl Fuel Injector Concept for Ultra-Low NOx Gas Turbine Combustion Systems

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waseem Nazeer ◽  
Kenneth Smith ◽  
Patrick Sheppard ◽  
Robert Cheng ◽  
David Littlejohn
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Flame Temperature ◽  
Pressure Oscillation ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Combustion System ◽  
Fuel Injector ◽  
Annular Combustor ◽  
Swirl Injector ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustion

The continued development of a low swirl injector for ultra-low NOx gas turbine applications is described. An injector prototype for natural gas operation has been designed, fabricated and tested. The target application is an annular gas turbine combustion system requiring twelve injectors. High pressure rig test results for a single injector prototype are presented. On natural gas, ultra-low NOx emissions were achieved along with low CO. A turndown of approximately 100°F in flame temperature was possible before CO emissions increased significantly. Subsequently, a set of injectors was evaluated at atmospheric pressure using a production annular combustor. Rig testing again demonstrated the ultra-low NOx capability of the injectors on natural gas. An engine test of the injectors will be required to establish the transient performance of the combustion system and to assess any combustor pressure oscillation issues.

scholarly journals Flame Ionization Sensor Integrated Into a Gas Turbine Fuel Nozzle

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Benson ◽  
Jimmy D. Thornton ◽  
Douglas L. Straub ◽  
E. David Huckaby ◽  
Geo. A. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Stability Margin ◽  
Thermodynamic Efficiency ◽  
Flame Stability ◽  
Fuel Quality ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Combustion Dynamics ◽  
Flame Ionization ◽  
Fuel Nozzle

Recent advances in lean premix gas turbine combustion have focused primarily on increasing thermodynamic efficiency, reducing emissions, and minimizing combustion dynamics. The practical limitation on increasing efficiency at lower emissions is the onset of combustion instability, which is known to occur near the lean flammability limit. In a laboratory environment there are many sensors available that provide the combustion engineer with adequate information about flame stability, but those sensors are generally too expensive or unreliable for widespread application in the field. As a consequence, engines must be commissioned in the field with adequate stability margin such that normally expected component wear, fuel quality, and environmental conditions will not cause the turbine to experience unstable combustion. Woodward Industrial Controls, in cooperation with the National Energy Technology Laboratory, is developing a novel combustion sensor that is integrated into the fuel nozzle such that low cost and long life are achieved. The sensor monitors flame ionization, which is indicative of air–fuel ratio and most importantly flame stability.

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