scholarly journals Field Test of a Catalytic Combustion System for Non-Ammonia Control of Gas Turbine NOx Emissions

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Burns
Author(s):  
Ralph A. Dalla Betta ◽  
James C. Schlatter ◽  
Sarento G. Nickolas ◽  
Martin B. Cutrone ◽  
Kenneth W. Beebe ◽  
...  

The most effective technologies currently available for controlling NOx emissions from heavy-duty industrial gas turbines are either diluent injection in the combustor reaction zone, or lean premixed Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustion. For ultra low emissions requirements, these must be combined with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) DeNOx systems in the gas turbine exhaust. An alternative technology for achieving comparable emissions levels with the potential for lower capital investment and operating cost is catalytic combustion of lean premixed fuel and air within the gas turbine. The design of a catalytic combustion system using natural gas fuel has been prepared for the GE model MS9OOIE gas turbine. This machine has a turbine inlet temperature to the first rotating stage of over 1100°C and produces approximately 105 MW electrical output in simple cycle operation. The 508 mm diameter catalytic combustor designed for this gas turbine was operated at full-scale conditions in tests conducted in 1992 and 1994. The combustor was operated for twelve hours during the 1994 test and demonstrated very low NOx emissions from the catalytic reactor. The total exhaust NOx level was approximately 12–15 ppmv and was produced almost entirely in the preburner ahead of the reactor. A small quantity of steam injected into the preburner reduced the NOx emissions to 5–6 ppmv. Development of the combustion system has continued with the objectives of reducing CO and UHC emissions, understanding the parameters affecting reactor stability and spatial non-uniformities which were observed at low inlet temperature, and improving the structural integrity of the reactor system to a level required for commercial operation of gas turbines. Design modifications were completed and combustion hardware was fabricated for additional full-scale tests of the catalytic combustion system in March 1995 and January 1996. This paper presents a discussion of the combustor design, the catalytic reactor design and the results of full-scale testing of the improved combustor at MS9OOIE cycle conditions in the March 1995 and January 1996 tests. Major improvements in performance were achieved with CO and UHC emissions of 10 ppmv and 0 ppmv at base load conditions. This ongoing program will lead to two additional full-scale combustion system tests in 1996. The results of these tests will be available for discussion at the June 1996 Conference in Birmingham.


1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 844-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Dalla Betta ◽  
J. C. Schlatter ◽  
S. G. Nickolas ◽  
M. B. Cutrone ◽  
K. W. Beebe ◽  
...  

The most effective technologies currently available for controlling NOx emissions from heavy-duty industrial gas turbines are diluent injection in the combustor reaction zone, and lean premixed Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustion. For ultralow emissions requirements, these must be combined with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) DeNOx systems in the gas turbine exhaust. An alternative technology for achieving comparable emissions levels with the potential for lower capital investment and operating cost is catalytic combustion of lean premixed fuel and air within the gas turbine. The design of a catalytic combustion system using natural gas fuel has been prepared for the GE model MS9OO1E gas turbine. This machine has a turbine inlet temperature to the first rotating stage of over 1100°C and produces approximately 105 MW electrical output in simple cycle operation. The 508-mm-dia catalytic combustor designed for this gas turbine was operated at full-scale conditions in tests conducted in 1992 and 1994. The combustor was operated for twelve hours during the 1994 test and demonstrated very low NOx emissions from the catalytic reactor. The total exhaust NOx level was approximately 12–15 ppmv and was produced almost entirely in the preburner ahead of the reactor. A small quantity of steam injected into the preburner reduced the NOx emissions to 5–6 ppmv. Development of the combustion system has continued with the objectives of reducing CO and UHC emissions, understanding the parameters affecting reactor stability and spatial nonuniformities that were observed at low inlet temperature, and improving the structural integrity of the reactor system to a level required for commercial operation of gas turbines. Design modifications were completed and combustion hardware was fabricated for additional full-scale tests of the catalytic combustion system in March 1995 and January 1996. This paper presents a discussion of the combustor design, the catalytic reactor design, and the results of full-scale testing of the improved combustor at MS9OO1E cycle conditions in the March 1995 and January 1996 tests. Major improvements in performance were achieved with CO and UHC emissions of 10 ppmv and 0 ppmv at baseload conditions. This ongoing program will lead to two additional full-scale combustion system tests in 1996. The results of these tests will be available for discussion at the June 1996 Conference in Birmingham.


1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 677-685
Author(s):  
M. Gianola

For purposes of both final verification and optimization of TG 20 and TG 50 combustion systems, test programs have been carried out directly on full engines operating in the field, as well as in the test bench. These programs were carried out in two separate phases: the first one directed to determine the behavior at load by means of experimental data acquisition, including temperature distribution on the combustor exit plane for different burner arrangements, and the second one directed to optimize the ignition process and the acceleration sequence. This paper, after a brief description of the instrumentation used for each test, reports the most significant results burning both fuel oil and natural gas. Moreover, some peculiar operational problems are mentioned, along with their diagnosis and the corrections applied to the combustion system to solve them.


Author(s):  
R. A. Dalla Betta ◽  
J. C. Schlatter ◽  
S. G. Nickolas ◽  
D. K. Yee ◽  
T. Shoji

A catalytic combustion system has been developed which feeds full fuel and air to the catalyst but avoids exposure of the catalyst to the high temperatures responsible for deactivation and thermal shock fracture of the supporting substrate. The combustion process is initiated by the catalyst and is completed by homogeneous combustion in the post catalyst region where the highest temperatures are obtained. This has been demonstrated in subscale test rigs at pressures up to 14 atmospheres and temperatures above 1300°C (2370°F). At pressures and gas linear velocities typical of gas turbine combustors, the measured emissions from the catalytic combustion system are NOx < 1 ppm, CO < 2 ppm and UHC < 2 ppm, demonstrating the capability to achieve ultra low NOx and at the same time low CO and UHC.


1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Claeys ◽  
K. M. Elward ◽  
W. J. Mick ◽  
R. A. Symonds

This paper presents the results of the combustion system test of the MS7001F installed at the Virginia Power Chesterfield station. Tests of water and steam injection for NOx control were performed. Results of emissions, combustor dynamics, and combustor hardware performance are presented. Emissions test results include NOx, CO, unburned hydrocarbons, VOC, and formaldehyde levels. Combustor dynamic activity over a range of diluent injection ratios, and the performance of an actively cooled transition duct are also discussed. Combustion system mechanical performance is described following the first combustion system inspection.


2006 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Cocchi ◽  
Giancarlo Nutini ◽  
Mark J. Spencer ◽  
Sarento G. Nickolas

Author(s):  
Kenneth O. Smith ◽  
Leonard C. Angello ◽  
F. Richard Kurzynske

The design and initial rig testing of an ultra-low NOx gas turbine combustor primary zone are described. A lean premixed, swirl-stabilized combustor was evaluated over a range of pressures up to 10.7 × 105 Pa (10.6 atm) using natural gas. The program goal of reducing NOx emissions to 10 ppm (at 15% O2) with coincident low CO emissions was achieved at all combustor pressure levels. Appropriate combustor loading for ultra-low NOx operation was determined through emissions sampling within the primary zone. The work described represents a first step in developing an advanced gas turbine combustion system that can yield ultra-low NOx levels without the need for water injection and selective catalytic reduction.


Author(s):  
Luke H. Cowell ◽  
Matthew P. Larkin

A catalytic combustion system for advanced industrial gas turbines is under long tern development employing recent advances in catalyst and materials technologies. Catalytic combustion is a proven means of burning fuel with single digit NOx emissions levels. However, this technology has yet to be considered for production in an industrial gas turbine for a number of reasons including: limited catalyst durability, demonstration of a system that can operate over all loads and ambient conditions, and market and cost factors. The catalytic combustion system will require extensive modifications to production gas turbines including fuel staging and variable geometry. The combustion system is composed of five elements: a preheat combustor, premixer, catalyst bed, part load injector and post-catalyst combustor. The preheat combustor operates in a lean premixed mode and is used to elevate catalyst inlet air and fuel to operating temperature. The premixer combines fuel and air into a uniform mixture before entering the catalyst. The catalyst bed initiates the fuel-air reactions, elevating the mixture temperature and partially oxidizing the fuel. The part load injector is a lean premixed combustor system that provides fuel and air to the post-catalyst combustor. The post-catalyst combustor is the volume downstream of the catalyst bed where the combustion reactions are completed. At part load conditions a conventional flame bums in this zone. Combustion testing is on-going in a subscale rig to optimize the system and define operating limits. Short duration rig testing has been completed to 9 atmospheres pressure with stable catalytic combustion and NOx emissions down to the 5 ppmv level. Testing was intended to prove-out design elements at representative full load engine conditions. Subscale combustion testing is planned to document performance at part-load conditions. Preliminary full-scale engine design studies are underway.


Author(s):  
Markus Feigl ◽  
Fred Setzer ◽  
Rebecca Feigl-Varela ◽  
Geoff Myers ◽  
Bryan Sweet

The lean, premixed H combustion system was targeted to deliver low NOx and CO emissions from 50% to 100% combined cycle load in both the Frame 7H (60 Hz) and Frame 9H (50 Hz) heavy-duty industrial gas turbines. The H System™ is the first gas turbine combined-cycle technology capable of achieving 60% thermal efficiency. The present paper describes field test performance of the combustion system during the launch and operation of the initial MS9001H installation at Baglan Bay power station near Port Talbot, Wales. The 480 MW 9H combined cycle, fired using the 14-chamber DLN2.5H combustion system, was comprehensively evaluated during the gas turbine Characterization Test program over a period of several months in late 2002 and 2003. Results are reported for exhaust emissions, combustor component durability, operability, and other key combustion system performance parameters over the full gas turbine operating range. The present paper also describes the operability of the H combustion system throughout a rigorous validation of the power plant system, including National Grid Council testing, load rejections, and other key system transients.


Author(s):  
Robert Corr ◽  
Tim Caron ◽  
John Barnes ◽  
Stefan Meyer ◽  
John Battaglioli ◽  
...  

This paper describes a fuel and air mixer being developed for an 11 MW gas turbine catalytic combustion system. The fuel is natural gas. The mixer is based loosely on the radial-swirler design used in the XONON™-2.0 combustor, but has an axial swirler and inlet. Features have been incorporated in the design to make it resistant to flameholding. A combination of atmospheric testing and advanced CFD analysis have resulted in a design that is close to meeting its design targets of +/− 5% fuel to air uniformity, +/− 10°C thermal uniformity and 0.5% pressure loss. Modal and thermal stress finite element analyses have been incorporated in the development from its beginning phases to assure that the final design will meet life targets. This mixer is one of two alternative designs being considered for the production version of the catalytic combustion system.


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