scholarly journals Influence of H2O on Oxygen Enriched Diffusion Combustion of Natural Gas

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 925-932
Author(s):  
Xiang He ◽  
Xin Ren ◽  
Fanjin Zeng ◽  
Yindi Zhang ◽  
Yue Xin ◽  
...  

O2/H2O combustion technology, as the next generation of oxy-fuel combustion technology with great potential, can greatly increase the utilization rate of clean energy CH4. In this paper, the natural gas combustion process under 6 operating conditions of O2/H2O atmosphere and O2/FH2O atmosphere is numerically simulated. The horizontal analysis is carried out on the characteristics of H2O fraction, CO2 volume fraction and the amount of pollutants (NOx, carbon black), and in-depth exploration of the content of additive H2O and the influence of chemical action on the above characteristics. The research results show that the chemical effects of H2O have a negative effect on combustion temperature, and the physical effects are dominant. The chemical effects of H2O have a great impact on CO production and little effect on the production of CO when the proportion of H2O is 65-79%. The chemical effects of H2O inhibit the formation of NOx and carbon black when the proportion of H2O is within the range of 55-70%. The chemical effect has the greatest impact on the formation of dyes (NOx, carbon black) when the proportion of H2O is within the range of 65-70%.

Author(s):  
Long Liu ◽  
Xia Wen ◽  
Qian Xiong ◽  
Xiuzhen Ma

Abstract With energy shortages and increasing environmental problems, natural gas, as a clean energy, has the advantages of cheap price and large reserves and has become one of the main alternative fuels for marine diesel engines. For large bore natural gas engines, pre-chamber spark plug ignition can be used to increase engine efficiency. The engine mainly relies on the flame ejected from the pre-chamber to ignite the mixture of natural gas and air in the main combustion chamber. The ignition flame in the main combustion chamber is the main factor affecting the combustion process. Although the pre-chamber natural gas engines have been extensively studied, the characteristics of combustion in the pre-chamber and the development of ignition flame in the main combustion chamber have not been fully understood. In this study, a two-zone phenomenological combustion model of pre-chamber spark-ignition natural gas engines is established based on the exchange of mass and energy of the gas flow process in the pre-chamber and the main combustion chamber. The basic characteristics of the developed model are: a spherical flame surface is used to describe the combustion state in the pre-chamber, and according to the turbulent jet theory, the influence of turbulence on the state of the pilot flame is considered based on the Reynolds number. According to the phenomenological model, the time when the flame starts to be injected from the pre-chamber to the main combustion chamber, and the parameters such as the length of the pilot flame are analyzed. The model was verified by experimental data, and the results showed that the calculated values were in good agreement with the experimental values. It provides an effective tool for mastering the law of flame development and supporting the optimization of combustion efficiency.


Author(s):  
Julia Fleck ◽  
Peter Griebel ◽  
Manfred Aigner ◽  
Adam M. Steinberg

Previous autoignition studies at conditions relevant to reheat combustor operation have indicated that the presence of relatively small amounts of natural gas (NG) in H2/N2 fuel significantly changes the autoignition behavior. The present study further elucidates the influence of NG on autoignition, kernel propagation, and subsequent flame stabilization at conditions that are relevant for the practical operation of gas turbine reheat combustors (p = 15 bar, Tinlet > 1000 K, hot flue gas, appropriate residence times). The experimental investigation was carried out in a generic, optically accessible reheat combustor. Autoignition events in the mixing zone were recorded by a high-speed camera at frame rates of up to 30,000 fps. This paper describes the autoignition behavior as the H2 volume fraction is increased (decreasing NG) in a H2/NG/N2 fuel mixture for two different jet penetration depths. Additionally, the subsequent flame stabilization phenomena and the structure of the stabilized flame are discussed. The results reveal that autoignition kernels occurred even for the lowest H2 fuel fraction, but they did not initiate a stable flame in the mixing zone. Increasing the H2 volume fraction decreased the distance between the initial position of the autoignition kernels and the fuel injector, finally leading to flame stabilization. The occurrence of autoignition kernels at lower H2 volume fractions (H2/(H2+NG) < 85%) was not found to be significantly influenced by the fluid dynamic and mixing field differences related to the different jet penetration depths. In contrast, autoignition leading to flame stabilization was found to depend on jet penetration; flame stabilization occurred at lower H2 fractions for the higher jet penetration depth (H2/(H2+NG) ≈ 89 compared to H2/(H2+NG) ≈ 95 vol. %).


Author(s):  
Raffaela Calabria ◽  
Fabio Chiariello ◽  
Patrizio Massoli ◽  
Fabrizio Reale

In recent years an increasing interest is focused on the study of micro gas turbines (MGT) behavior at part load by varying fuel, in order to determine their versatility. The interest in using MGT is related to the possibility of feeding with a wide range of fuels and to realize efficient cogenerative cycles by recovering heat from exhaust gases at higher temperatures. In this context, the studies on micro gas turbines are focused on the analysis of the machine versatility and flexibility, when operating conditions and fuels are significantly varied. In line of principle, in case of gaseous fuels with similar Wobbe Index no modifications to the combustion chamber should be required. The adoption of fuels whose properties differ greatly from those of design can require relevant modifications of the combustor, besides the proper adaptation of the feeding system. Thus, at low loads or low calorific value fuels, the combustor becomes a critical component of the entire MGT, as regards stability and emissions of the combustion process. Focus of the paper is a 3D CFD analysis of the combustor behavior of a Turbec T100P fueled at different loads and fuels. Differences between combustors designed for natural gas and liquid fuels are also highlighted. In case of natural gas, inlet combustor temperature and pressure were taken from experimental data; in case of different fuels, such data were inferred by using a thermodynamic model which takes into account rotating components behavior through operating maps of compressor and turbine. Specific aim of the work is to underline potentialities and critical issues of the combustor under study in case of adoption of fuels far from the design one and to suggest possible solutions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. Ibrahim ◽  
A. Attia ◽  
H. A. Moneib ◽  
A. A. Emara

Abstract Soot study is a fundamental issue for the combustion process of hydrocarbon fuels. Losses in combustion efficiency, health risks, environmental loosestrife, and damage in furnaces may appear as a result of soot existence. This present paper aims at providing an experimental mapping of the changes in the soot volume fraction and axial flame mean temperature associated with the addition of different percentages of soot inhibitor additives (namely, Argon, Nitrogen, and Helium) in a vertical laminar diffusion natural gas flame issuing from a honeycomb circular burner. The soot volume fraction is acquired by the laser extinction technique, while the axial variations of the mean flame temperature are accomplished by a bare 51 µm (Pt-30%Rh versus Pt-6%Rh) thermocouple to render radiation loss insignificant. The concentration of the individual additives is varied from 5% to 25% (step 5%) and the experiments are conducted at a fixed natural gas throughput (350 mL/min) to ensure unvaried thermal input. Measurement traverses along and across (at fixed radial locations) are conducted. The fuel flowrate is measured by a precision digital gas flowmeter (type: Varian intelligent), while the flow of the individual additive is admitted via solenoid valves (handled with labview program) and is injected through mixing pipes located at burner entry. The different regimes of the soot inception (molecular; zone 1), soot growth zone (zone 2), and soot oxidation (zone 3) are accurately defined and assessed in relation to the temperature results for the different cases under investigation.


Author(s):  
Francesco F. Nicolosi ◽  
Massimiliano Renzi

Abstract In this paper, the authors analyze the feasibility of fuelling a small-scale 3.2 kWe MGT, manufactured by the Dutch company MTT, with a low LHV fuel produced via a gasification process. In particular, a CFD analysis on the combustor of the MGT is carried out in order to assess the behaviour of the component when it is fuelled with a traditional fuel (natural gas) and with a producer gas coming from a gasification process. The operating conditions of the combustor, used as boundary conditions for the simulations, are obtained by analyzing the characteristic performance curves of the turbo-machines used in the MGT. The simulation of the combustion process with methane has been validated using the temperature output from experimental tests and the NOX emissions. A RANS simulation using the Non-Adiabatic Non-Premixed Combustion Model Approach has been adopted. NOX formation has been simulated by the adoption of the extended Zel’dovich mechanism. Both nominal and part load simulations have been performed. This simplified modelling strategy allows to assess the main issues and figures of the combustion process with a reasonable computational effort. The CFD simulations showed that the combustion with a low LHV fuel are feasible but some modifications of the present configuration of the combustor are required, with specific attention to the fuel injection system. Results showed that, with Natural Gas, the average temperature of the exhaust mass flow is 1297 K, the level of CO and NOX referred to the 15% of O2 are respectively less than 1 ppm and 30.365 ppm, respectively. With S the original design of the injector proved to be non-adequate for a proper air and fuel mixing; therefore, a modified design has been proposed with an increased injection section. In the novel design for syngas, a better temperature distribution and lower emissions have been found: an average temperature of the flue gas at the combustor discharge of 1249 K is obtained, and the level of CO and NOX are both less than 1 ppm. The lower operating temperature is determined by the higher fuel flow rate and, in particular, by the high share of inert gases in the fuel. Additional simulations have been run at part load operation to assess the viability of the proposed design also in off-design conditions.


Author(s):  
Jochen R. Bru¨ckner-Kalb ◽  
Michael Kro¨sser ◽  
Christoph Hirsch ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer

The concept of the cyclic periodical mixing combustion process (CPMCP) [1, 2] for the extension of the lean blowout limit had been implemented in an atmospheric experimental combustor for testing with both external perfect [3] and technical [4] premixing of reactants. It had been tested with natural gas and has now been tested with a mixture of 70%Vol of hydrogen and 30%Vol of natural gas (98% CH4) as fuel. With natural gas the NOx emissions are unaffected by the limited technical premixing quality, as long as the air preheat is in the design range of the premixers [4]. Then, for adiabatic flame temperatures of up to 1630 K NOx emissions are below 1 ppm(v) with CO emissions below 8 ppm(v) in the whole operation range of the test combustor (15% O2, dry). With the “70%Vol H2 – 30%Vol CH4” mixture the NOx emissions increase by nearly one order of magnitude. Then, NOx emissions below 7 ppm(v) (15% O2, dry) are achieved for adiabatic flame temperatures of up to 1600 K. They approach the 1 ppm(v) level only for flame temperatures below 1450 K. CO emissions are below 4 ppm(v). The reason for the increase of the NOx emissions is the higher reactivity of the mixture, which leads to earlier ignition in zones of still elevated unmixedness of reactants near the premixer-injector exits. This effect was investigated by chemical reactor network simulations, analyzing a pressure effect and an additional chemical effect of hydrogen combustion on NOx formation.


Author(s):  
Sebastian Göke ◽  
Sebastian Schimek ◽  
Steffen Terhaar ◽  
Thoralf Reichel ◽  
Katharina Göckeler ◽  
...  

In the current study, the influence of pressure and steam on the emission formation in a premixed natural gas flame is investigated at pressures between 1.5 bar and 9 bar. A premixed, swirl-stabilized combustor is developed that provides a stable flame up to very high steam contents. Combustion tests are conducted at different pressure levels for equivalence ratios from lean blowout to near-stoichiometric conditions and steam-to-air mass ratios from 0% to 25%. A reactor network is developed to model the combustion process. The simulation results match the measured NOx and CO concentrations very well for all operating conditions. The reactor network is used for a detailed investigation of the influence of steam and pressure on the NOx formation pathways. In the experiments, adding 20% steam reduces NOx and CO emissions to below 10 ppm at all tested pressures up to near-stoichiometric conditions. Pressure scaling laws are derived: CO changes with a pressure exponent of approximately −0.5 that is not noticeably affected by the steam. For the NOx emissions, the exponent increases with equivalence ratio from 0.1 to 0.65 at dry conditions. At a steam-to-air mass ratio of 20%, the NOx pressure exponent is reduced to −0.1 to +0.25. The numerical analysis reveals that steam has a strong effect on the combustion chemistry. The reduction in NOx emissions is mainly caused by lower concentrations of atomic oxygen at steam-diluted conditions, constraining the thermal pathway.


Author(s):  
P. Birkby ◽  
R. S. Cant ◽  
W. N. Dawes ◽  
A. A. J. Demargne ◽  
P. C. Dhanasekaran ◽  
...  

The introduction of lean premixed combustion technology in industrial gas turbines has led to a number of interesting technical issues. Lean premixed combustors are especially prone to acoustically-coupled combustion oscillations as well as to other problems of flame stability such as flashback. Clearly it is very important to understand the physics that lies behind such behaviour in order to produce robust and comprehensive remedies, and also to underpin the future development of new combustor designs. Simulation of the flow and combustion using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) offers an attractive way forward, provided that the modelling of turbulence and combustion is adequate and that the technique is applicable to real industrial combustor geometries. The paper presents a series of CFD simulations of the Rolls-Royce Trent industrial combustor carried out using the McNEWT unstructured code. The entire combustion chamber geometry is represented including the premixing ducts, the fuel injectors and the discharge nozzle. A modified k-ε model has been used together with an advanced laminar flamelet combustion model that is sensitive to variations in fuel-air mixture stoichiometry. Detailed results have been obtained for the non-reacting flow field, for the mixing of fuel and air and for the combustion process itself at a number of different operating conditions. The study has provided a great deal of useful information on the operation of the combustor and has demonstrated the value of CFD-based combustion analysis in an industrial context.


Author(s):  
Georg Fink ◽  
Michael Jud ◽  
Thomas Sattelmayer

Natural gas as an alternative fuel in engine applications substantially reduces both pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. High pressure dual fuel (HPDF) direct injection of natural gas and diesel pilot has the potential to minimize methane slip from gas engines and increase the fuel flexibility, while retaining the high efficiency of a diesel engine. Speed and load variations as well as various strategies for emission reduction entail a wide range of different operating conditions. The influence of these operating conditions on the ignition and combustion process is investigated on a rapid compression expansion machine (RCEM). By combining simultaneous shadowgraphy (SG) and OH* imaging with heat release rate analysis, an improved understanding of the ignition and combustion process is established. At high temperatures and pressures, the reduced pilot ignition delay and lift-off length minimize the effect of natural gas jet entrainment on pilot mixture formation. A simple geometrical constraint was found to reflect the susceptibility for misfiring. At the same time, natural gas ignition is delayed by the early pilot ignition close to the injector tip. The shape of heat release is only marginally affected by the operating conditions and mainly determined by the degree of premixing at the time of gas jet ignition. Luminescence from the sooting natural gas flame is generally only detected after the flame extends across the whole gas jet at peak heat release rate. Termination of gas injection at this time was confirmed to effectively suppress soot formation, while a strongly sooting pilot seems to intensify soot formation within the natural gas jet.


Author(s):  
Siddhartha Gadiraju ◽  
Suhyeon Park ◽  
Prashant Singh ◽  
Jaideep Pandit ◽  
Srinath V. Ekkad ◽  
...  

This work is motivated by an interest in understanding the fuel interchangeability of a fuel nozzle to operate under extreme lean operating conditions. A lean premixed, swirl-stabilized fuel nozzle designed with central pilot hub was used to test various fuel blends for combustion characteristics. Current gas turbine combustion technology primarily focuses on burning natural gas for industrial systems. However, interest in utilizing additional options due to environmental regulations as well as concerns about energy security have motivated interest in using fuel gases that have blends of Methane, Propane, H2, CO, CO2, and N2. For example, fuel blends of 35%/60% to 55%/35% of CH4/CO2 are typically seen in Landfill gases. Syngas fuels are typically composed primarily of H2, CO, and N2. CH4/N2 fuel blend mixtures can be derived from biomass gasification. Stringent emission requirements for gas turbines stipulate operating at extreme lean conditions, which can reduce NOx emissions. However, lean operating conditions pose the problem of potential blowout resulting in loss of performance and downtime. Therefore, it is important to understand the Lean Blowout (LBO) limits and involved mechanisms that lead to a blowout. While a significant amount of research has been performed to understand lean blowout limits and mechanisms for natural gas, research on LBO limits and mechanisms for fuel blends has only been concentrated on fuel blends of CH4 and H2 such as syngas. This paper studies the lean blowout limits with fuel blends CH4-C3H8, CH4-CO2, and CH4-N2 and also their effect on the stability limits as the pilot fuel percentage was varied. Experimental results demonstrate that the addition of propane, nitrogen and carbon dioxide has minimal effect on the adiabatic flame temperature when the flame becomes unstable under lean operating conditions. On the other hand, the addition of diluent gas showed a potential blowout at higher adiabatic temperatures.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document