Assessment of Hydrogen and Natural Gas Mixtures in a Large Bore Gas Engine for Power Generation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernhard Fercher ◽  
Andreas Wimmer ◽  
Jan Zelenka ◽  
Gernot Kammel ◽  
Zita Baumann
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Substitution Rates ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
High Hydrogen ◽  
Gas Engine ◽  
Hydrogen Substitution ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Now more than ever there is a growing global interest to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originating from internal combustion engines. One approach consists in the use of hydrogen instead of fossil fuels. Large bore gas engines for power generation are often fueled by gases with high methane content. Relative to natural gas-fueled engines, the power densities of premixed or port-fuel-injected hydrogen engines are limited due to low volumetric efficiencies and moreover by occurring irregular combustion events (knocking, backfire). The paper presents results from experimental investigations of the impact of different hydrogen substitution rates in natural gas on performance, emissions and operating limits on a single cylinder research engine. The engine is representative for a large bore gas engine for power generation and operates using an open chamber combustion concept with lean mixtures. Essentially, THC, CO2 and CO emissions decrease with rising hydrogen content of the fuel gas. Even with low concentrations of hydrogen in the fuel gas, significant reductions in THC emissions could be demonstrated. Usually NOX emissions will rise with unchanged operating parameters. However, if excess-air ratio and spark timing are adjusted, a net reduction of NOX emissions can be achieved while the impact on brake thermal efficiency is small. Furthermore, the paper outlines potential mitigation strategies to expand the operational limits with respect to power density with high hydrogen substitution rates.

Impact of Ethane, Propane, and Diluent Content in Natural Gas on the Performance of a Commercial Microturbine Generator

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Hack ◽  
Vincent G. McDonell
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Fuel Composition ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Heating Value ◽  
Designed Experiment ◽  
Methane Number ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Lean Conditions

The impact of fuel composition on the performance of power generation devices is gaining interest as the desire to diversify fuel supplies increases. In the present study, measurements of combustion performance were conducted on a commercial natural gas-fired 60kW gas turbine as a function of fuel composition. A statistically designed experiment was carried out and exhaust emissions were obtained for significant amounts of ethane and propane. In addition, a limited study of the effect of inerts was conducted. The results show that emissions of NOx, CO, and NOx∕NO are not well correlated with common descriptions of the fuel, such as higher heating value or methane number. The results and trends indicate that the presence of higher hydrocarbons in the fuel leads to appreciably higher NOx emissions for both test devices operating under similar lean conditions, while having less impact on CO emissions.

Impact of Ethane, Propane, and Diluent Content in Natural Gas on the Performance of a Commercial Microturbine Generator

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard L. Hack ◽  
Vincent G. McDonell
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Fuel Composition ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Heating Value ◽  
Designed Experiment ◽  
Methane Number ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Lean Conditions

The impact of fuel composition on performance of power generation devices is gaining interest as a desire to diversify fuel supplies increases. In the present study measurements of combustion performance were conducted on a commercial natural gas fired 60-kW gas turbine as a function of fuel composition. A statistically designed experiment was carried out and exhaust emissions were obtained for significant amounts of ethane and propane. In addition, a limited study of the effect of inerts was examined. The results show that emissions of NOx, CO, and NOx/NO are not well correlated with common descriptions of the fuel such as higher heating value or methane number. The results and trends indicate that the presence of higher hydrocarbons in the fuel leads to appreciably higher NOx emissions for both test devices operating under similar lean conditions, while having less impact on CO emissions.

Decarbonizing Power Generation Through the Use of Hydrogen As a Gas Turbine Fuel

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Welch
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Carbon Content ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
High Hydrogen ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Zero Carbon ◽  
The Impact

Abstract The power generation industry has a major role to play in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon dioxide (CO2) in particular. There are two ways to reduce CO2 emissions from power generation: improved conversion efficiency of fuel into electrical energy, and switching to lower carbon content fuels. Gas turbine generator sets, whether in open cycle, combined cycle or cogeneration configuration, offer some of the highest efficiencies possible across a wide range of power outputs. With natural gas, the fossil fuel with the lowest carbon content, as the primary fuel, they produce among the lowest CO2 emissions per kWh generated. It is possible though to decarbonize power generation further by using the fuel flexibility of the gas turbine to fully or partially displace natural gas used with hydrogen. As hydrogen is a zero carbon fuel, it offers the opportunity for gas turbines to produce zero carbon electricity. As an energy carrier, hydrogen is an ideal candidate for long-term or seasonal storage of renewable energy, while the gas turbine is an enabler for a zero carbon power generation economy. Hydrogen, while the most abundant element in the Universe, does not exist in its elemental state in nature, and producing hydrogen is an energy-intensive process. This paper looks at the different methods by which hydrogen can be produced, the impact on CO2 emissions from power generation by using pure hydrogen or hydrogen/natural gas blends, and how the economics of power generation using hydrogen compare with today’s state of the art technologies and carbon capture. This paper also addresses the issues surrounding the combustion of hydrogen in gas turbines, historical experience of gas turbines operating on high hydrogen fuels, and examines future developments to optimize combustion emissions.

Survey of Gas Engine Performance and Future Trends

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Callahan
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Exhaust Emission ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Gas Engine ◽  
Natural Gas Engines ◽  
Reciprocating Engines ◽  
Performance And Emissions

Worldwide, reciprocating engines play a major role in power generation. Many of the reciprocating engines are diesel engines used as stand-by generators, but increasingly, natural gas engines are providing distributed base load generation and finding service in combined heat and power applications. The economics of power generation continues to place a premium on engine efficiency while environmental regulators continue to legislate lower and lower exhaust emission levels, specifically NOx emissions. NOx emissions and efficiency tend to be proportional, so while not mutually exclusive, low NOx and high efficiency are difficult to obtain simultaneously. In spite of the NOx-efficiency relationship, natural gas engines are more efficient with lower emissions today than in the past and the trend toward higher efficiency will continue in the future. This paper surveys current natural gas engine performance and emissions and projects future engine performance. This paper also introduces the ARES and ARICE programs for developing revolutionary technology for high efficiency and low emissions.

Gas Turbine Combined Cycle With CO2-Capture Using Auto-Thermal Reforming of Natural Gas

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thormod Andersen ◽  
Hanne M. Kvamsdal ◽  
Olav Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Process Integration ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Co2 Removal ◽  
Gas Turbine Combustor ◽  
Chemical Absorption ◽  
Fuel Gas ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Water Gas

A concept for capturing and sequestering CO2 from a natural gas fired combined cycle power plant is presented. The present approach is to decarbonise the fuel prior to combustion by reforming natural gas, producing a hydrogen-rich fuel. The reforming process consists of an air-blown pressurised auto-thermal reformer that produces a gas containing H2, CO and a small fraction of CH4 as combustible components. The gas is then led through a water gas shift reactor, where the equilibrium of CO and H2O is shifted towards CO2 and H2. The CO2 is then captured from the resulting gas by chemical absorption. The gas turbine of this system is then fed with a fuel gas containing approximately 50% H2. In order to achieve acceptable level of fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency, this kind of process is attractive because of the possibility of process integration between the combined cycle and the reforming process. A comparison is made between a “standard” combined cycle and the current process with CO2-removal. This study also comprise an investigation of using a lower pressure level in the reforming section than in the gas turbine combustor and the impact of reduced steam/carbon ratio in the main reformer. The impact on gas turbine operation because of massive air bleed and the use of a hydrogen rich fuel is discussed.

Achieving Fast Catalyst Light-Off from a Heavy-Duty Stoichiometric Natural Gas Engine Capable of 0.02 g/bhp-hr NOX Emissions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Smith ◽  
James Chiu ◽  
Gordon Bartley ◽  
Eugene Jimenez ◽  
Thomas Briggs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Nox Emissions ◽  
Heavy Duty ◽  
Gas Engine ◽  
Natural Gas Engine

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.

The Effect of Parametric Variations on Formaldehyde Emissions From a Large Bore Natural Gas Engine

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel B. Olsen ◽  
Bryan D. Willson
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Formation Mechanisms ◽  
Combustion Engines ◽  
Gas Engine ◽  
Natural Gas Engine ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutant

Formaldehyde is a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) that is typically emitted from natural gas-fired internal combustion engines as a product of incomplete combustion. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently developing national emission standards to regulate HAP emissions, including formaldehyde, from stationary reciprocating internal combustion engines under Title III of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. This work investigates the effect that variations of engine operating parameters have on formaldehyde emissions from a large bore natural gas engine. The subject engine is a Cooper-Bessemer GMV-4TF two-stroke cycle engine with a 14″ (36 cm) bore and a 14″ (36 cm) stroke. Engine parameter variations investigated include load, boost, ignition timing, inlet air humidity ratio, air manifold temperature, jacket water temperature, prechamber fuel supply pressure, exhaust backpressure, and speed. The data analysis and interpretation is performed with reference to possible formaldehyde formation mechanisms and in-cylinder phenomena.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document