Low Emissions Microgrid Power Fueled by Bakken Flare Gas

Author(s):  
Richard J. Roby ◽  
Maclain M. Holton ◽  
Michael S. Klassen ◽  
Leo D. Eskin ◽  
Richard J. Joklik ◽  
...  

It is estimated that 30% of the over 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas produced in the Bakken shale field is lost to flaring. This flared gas, were it to be collected and used in DLE power generation gas turbine engines, represents approximately 1.2 GW of collective electric power. The main reason that much of this gas is flared is that the infrastructure in the Bakken lacks sufficient capacity or compression to combine and transport the gas streams. One of the reasons that this gas cannot be utilized on-site for power generation is that it contains significant amounts of natural gas liquids (NGLs) which make the gas unsuitable as a fuel for natural gas-fired gas turbine engines. A Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized (LPP) combustion technology has been developed that converts liquid fuels into a substitute for natural gas. This LPP Gastm can then be used to fuel virtually any combustion device in place of natural gas, yielding emissions comparable to those of ordinary natural gas. The LPP technology has been successfully demonstrated in over 1,000 hours of clean power generation on a 30 kW Capstone C30 microturbine. To date, 15 different liquid fuels have been vaporized and burned in the test gas turbine engine. To simulate the vaporization of NGLs, liquids including propane, pentane, and naphtha, among other liquids, have been vaporized and blended with methane. Emissions from the burning of these vaporized liquid fuels in the test engine have been comparable to baseline emissions from ordinary natural gas of 3 ppm NOx and 30 ppm CO. Autoignition of the vaporized liquid fuels in the gas turbine is controlled by the fraction of inert diluent added in the vaporization process. The LPP technology is able to process an infinitely variable composition of NGL components in the fuel stream by continually adjusting the amount of dilution to maintain a heating value consistent with natural gas. Burning the flare gases containing NGLs from a well locally, in a power generation gas turbine, would provide electricity for drilling operations. A microgrid can distribute power locally to the camps and infrastructure supporting the drilling and processing operations. Using the flare gases on-site has the benefit of reducing or eliminating the need for diesel tankers to supply fuel for power generation systems and equipment associated with the drilling operations.

Author(s):  
A. A. Starostin ◽  
◽  
D. V. Volosnikov ◽  
P. V. Skripov ◽  
◽  
...  

The reliability of the operation of aircraft engines is determined by chemical reliability, which is due to the quality of the used fuels and lubricants: jet fuels and aircraft oils and their influence on the operational properties of units and assemblies of gas turbine engines. One of the factors reducing the smooth operation of a gas turbine engine is the presence of water traces in the fuel. The main reason is the condensation of water traces in the fuel tanks and its freezing in filters and fuel pipes at temperature differences. In addition, water dissolved in fuel significantly increases the wear of fuel system components and friction pairs.


Author(s):  
Leo D. Eskin ◽  
Michael S. Klassen ◽  
Richard J. Roby ◽  
Richard G. Joklik ◽  
Maclain M. Holton

A Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized (LPP) combustion technology has been developed that converts liquid biofuels, such as biodiesel or ethanol, into a substitute for natural gas. This fuel can then be burned with low emissions in virtually any combustion device in place of natural gas, providing users substantial fuel flexibility. A gas turbine utilizing the LPP combustion technology to burn biofuels creates a “dispatchable” (on-demand) renewable power generator with low criteria pollutant emissions and no net carbon emissions. Natural gas, petroleum based fuel oil #1 and #2, biodiesel and ethanol were tested in an atmospheric pressure test rig using actual gas turbine combustor hardware (designed for natural gas) and achieved natural gas level emissions. Both biodiesel and ethanol achieved natural gas level emissions for NOx, CO, SOx and particulate matter (PM). Extended lean operation was observed for all liquid fuels tested due to the wider lean flammability range for these fuels compared to natural gas. Autoignition of the fuels was controlled by the level of diluent (inerting) gas used in the vaporization process. This technology has successfully demonstrated the clean generation of green, dispatchable, renewable power on a 30kW Capstone C30 microturbine. Emissions on the vaporized derived from bio-ethanol are 3 ppm NO(x) and 18 ppm CO, improving on the baseline natural gas emissions of 3 ppm NO(x), 30 ppm CO. Performance calculations have shown that for a typical combined cycle power plant, one can expect to achieve a two percent (2%) improvement in the overall net plant heat rate when burning liquid fuel as LPP Gas™ as compared to burning the same liquid fuel in traditional spray-flame diffusion combustors. This level of heat rate improvement is quite substantial, and represents an annual fuel savings of over five million dollars for base load operation of a GE Frame 7EA combined cycle plant (126 MW). This technology provides a clean and reliable form of renewable energy using liquid biofuels that can be a primary source for power generation or be a back-up source for non-dispatchable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The LPP technology allows for the clean use of biofuels in combustion devices without water injection or the use of post-combustion pollution control equipment and can easily be incorporated into both new and existing gas turbine power plants. No changes are required to the DLE gas turbine combustor hardware.


2005 ◽  
Vol 128 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qusai Z. Al-Hamdan ◽  
Munzer S. Y. Ebaid

The gas turbine engine is a complex assembly of a variety of components that are designed on the basis of aerothermodynamic laws. The design and operation theories of these individual components are complicated. The complexity of aerothermodynamic analysis makes it impossible to mathematically solve the optimization equations involved in various gas turbine cycles. When gas turbine engines were designed during the last century, the need to evaluate the engines performance at both design point and off design conditions became apparent. Manufacturers and designers of gas turbine engines became aware that some tools were needed to predict the performance of gas turbine engines especially at off design conditions where its performance was significantly affected by the load and the operating conditions. Also it was expected that these tools would help in predicting the performance of individual components, such as compressors, turbines, combustion chambers, etc. At the early stage of gas turbine developments, experimental tests of prototypes of either the whole engine or its main components were the only method available to determine the performance of either the engine or of the components. However, this procedure was not only costly, but also time consuming. Therefore, mathematical modelling using computational techniques were considered to be the most economical solution. The first part of this paper presents a discussion about the gas turbine modeling approach. The second part includes the gas turbine component matching between the compressor and the turbine which can be met by superimposing the turbine performance characteristics on the compressor performance characteristics with suitable transformation of the coordinates. The last part includes the gas turbine computer simulation program and its philosophy. The computer program presented in the current work basically satisfies the matching conditions analytically between the various gas turbine components to produce the equilibrium running line. The computer program used to determine the following: the operating range (envelope) and running line of the matched components, the proximity of the operating points to the compressor surge line, and the proximity of the operating points at the allowable maximum turbine inlet temperature. Most importantly, it can be concluded from the output whether the gas turbine engine is operating in a region of adequate compressor and turbine efficiency. Matching technique proposed in the current work used to develop a computer simulation program, which can be served as a valuable tool for investigating the performance of the gas turbine at off-design conditions. Also, this investigation can help in designing an efficient control system for the gas turbine engine of a particular application including being a part of power generation plant.


Author(s):  
Philippe Mathieu ◽  
Pericles Pilidis

In this paper, the use of various gaseous fuels in aero-derivative gas turbine engines is analysed. The gases investigated are natural gas and three coal synthetic gases of calorific values which are significantly lower than that of natural gas. The analysis is carried out employing natural gas fuel as a yardstick for comparison. Due to the lower calorific values of synthetic gases, the mass flow balance between compressors and turbines is altered. This in turn affects the matching of the components and the overall performance of a gas turbine engine. The engines examined are a single spool gas generator with a free power turbine and the double engine described in a previous paper. The main conclusion drawn from this analysis is that, for a given power output, the use of synthetic gases will result in an erosion of surge margins and in a reduction of the overall efficiency of the power plant.


Author(s):  
R. Joklik ◽  
L. Eskin ◽  
M. Klassen ◽  
R. Roby ◽  
M. Holton ◽  
...  

A Lean, Premixed, Prevaporized (LPP) combustion technology has been developed that converts liquid fuels into a substitute for natural gas. This fuel can then be burned with low emissions in virtually any combustion device in place of natural gas. This technology offers the possibility of using unprocessed oil-field Natural Gas Condensate (NGC) for local or export power generation using a DLN-equipped gas turbine rather than flaring, as is common practice in some regions. The ability to run a turbine on natural gas condensate with NOx and CO emissions comparable to those of natural gas has been demonstrated using a surrogate fuel made up from a mixture of naphtha (representing C4 and greater) and methane (representing <C4). The naphtha was vaporized using an LPP system, mixed with methane, and used to generate power in a 30kW Capstone C30 microturbine. The LPP Gas™ was tailored to match the modified Wobbe Index (MWI) of methane. NOx emissions in pre-mix mode on the surrogate NGC fuel were sub 5 ppm, indistinguishable from those when running on methane. CO emissions were sub 20 ppm, comparable to those on methane. At lower loads (in diffusion mode), NOx and CO emissions on surrogate NGC-based LPP Gas™ remain comparable to those on methane. No changes were required to the DLN gas turbine combustor hardware.


Author(s):  
Daniel E. Caguiat ◽  
David M. Zipkin ◽  
Jeffrey S. Patterson

Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) Gas Turbine Emerging Technologies Code 9334 conducted a land-based evaluation of fouling-resistant compressor coatings for the 501-K17 Ship Service Gas Turbine Generator (SSGTG) [1]. The purpose of this evaluation was to determine whether such coatings could be used to decrease the rate of compressor fouling and associated fuel consumption. Based upon favorable results from the land-based evaluation, a similar coated compressor gas turbine engine was installed onboard a United States Navy vessel. Two data acquisition computer (DAC) systems and additional sensors necessary to monitor and compare both the coated test engine and an uncoated control engine were added. The goal of this shipboard evaluation was to verify land-based results in a shipboard environment. Upon completion of the DAC installation, the two gas turbine engines were operated and initial data was stored. Shipboard data was compared to land-based data to verify validity and initial compressor performance. The shipboard evaluation is scheduled for completion in June 2003, at which time data will be analyzed and results published.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1675 ◽  
pp. 012111
Author(s):  
A Yu Vasilyev ◽  
O G Chelebyan ◽  
A A Sviridenkov ◽  
E S Domrina ◽  
A A Loginova ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
P. A. Phillips ◽  
Peter Spear

After briefly summarizing worldwide automotive gas turbine activity, the paper analyses the power plant requirements of a wide range of vehicle applications in order to formulate the design criteria for acceptable vehicle gas turbines. Ample data are available on the thermodynamic merits of various gas turbine cycles; however, the low cost of its piston engine competitor tends to eliminate all but the simplest cycles from vehicle gas turbine considerations. In order to improve the part load fuel economy, some complexity is inevitable, but this is limited to the addition of a glass ceramic regenerator in the 150 b.h.p. engine which is described in some detail. The alternative further complications necessary to achieve satisfactory vehicle response at various power/weight ratios are examined. Further improvement in engine performance will come by increasing the maximum cycle temperature. This can be achieved at lower cost by the extension of the use of ceramics. The paper is intended to stimulate the design application of the gas turbine engine.


NDT World ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 58-61
Author(s):  
Aleksey Popov ◽  
Aleksandr Romanov

A large number of aviation events are associated with the surge of gas turbine engines. The article analyzes the existing systems for diagnostics of the surge of gas turbine engines. An analysis of the acoustic signal of a properly operating gas turbine engine was carried out, at which a close theoretical distribution of random values was determined, which corresponds to the studied distribution of the amplitudes of the acoustic signal. An invariant has been developed that makes it possible to evaluate the development of rotating stall when analyzing the acoustic signal of gas turbine engines. A method is proposed for diagnosing the pre-surge state of gas turbine engines, which is based on processing an acoustic signal using invariant dependencies for random processes. A hardware-software complex has been developed using the developed acoustic method for diagnosing the pre-surge state of gas turbine engines.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey S. Patterson ◽  
Kevin Fauvell ◽  
Dennis Russom ◽  
Willie A. Durosseau ◽  
Phyllis Petronello ◽  
...  

Abstract The United States Navy (USN) 501-K Series Radiological Controls (RADCON) Program was launched in late 2011, in response to the extensive damage caused by participation in Operation Tomodachi. The purpose of this operation was to provide humanitarian relief aid to Japan following a 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck 231 miles northeast of Tokyo, on the afternoon of March 11, 2011. The earthquake caused a tsunami with 30 foot waves that damaged several nuclear reactors in the area. It was the fourth largest earthquake on record (since 1900) and the largest to hit Japan. On March 12, 2011, the United States Government launched Operation Tomodachi. In all, a total of 24,000 troops, 189 aircraft, 24 naval ships, supported this relief effort, at a cost in excess of $90.0 million. The U.S. Navy provided material support, personnel movement, search and rescue missions and damage surveys. During the operation, 11 gas turbine powered U.S. warships operated within the radioactive plume. As a result, numerous gas turbine engines ingested radiological contaminants and needed to be decontaminated, cleaned, repaired and returned to the Fleet. During the past eight years, the USN has been very proactive and vigilant with their RADCON efforts, and as of the end of calendar year 2019, have successfully completed the 501-K Series portion of the RADCON program. This paper will update an earlier ASME paper that was written on this subject (GT2015-42057) and will summarize the U.S. Navy’s 501-K Series RADCON effort. Included in this discussion will be a summary of the background of Operation Tomodachi, including a discussion of the affected hulls and related gas turbine equipment. In addition, a discussion of the radiological contamination caused by the disaster will be covered and the resultant effect to and the response by the Marine Gas Turbine Program. Furthermore, the authors will discuss what the USN did to remediate the RADCON situation, what means were employed to select a vendor and to set up a RADCON cleaning facility in the United States. And finally, the authors will discuss the dispensation of the 501-K Series RADCON assets that were not returned to service, which include the 501-K17 gas turbine engine, as well as the 250-KS4 gas turbine engine starter. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the results and lessons learned of the program and discuss how the USN was able to process all of their 501-K34 RADCON affected gas turbine engines and return them back to the Fleet in a timely manner.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document