A New Global Algebraic Model for NOx Emissions Formation in Post-Flame Gases - Application to Lean Premixed Combustion Systems

Author(s):  
Konstantinos Michos ◽  
Georgios Bikas ◽  
Ioannis Vlaskos
Author(s):  
P. Gokulakrishnan ◽  
C. C. Fuller ◽  
R. G. Joklik ◽  
M. S. Klassen

Single digit NOx emission targets as part of gas turbine design criteria require highly accurate modeling of the various NOx formation pathways. The concept of lean, premixed combustion is adopted in various gas turbine combustor designs, which achieves lower NOx levels by primarily lowering the flame temperature. At these conditions, the post-flame thermal-NOx pathway contribution to the total NOx can be relatively small compared to that from the prompt-NOx and the N2O-route, which are enhanced by the super-equilibrium radical pathway at the flame front. In addition, new sources of natural gas fuel (e.g., imported LNG) with widely varying chemical compositions including higher order hydrocarbon components, impact flame stability, lean blow-out limits and emissions in existing lean premixed combustion systems. Also, the presence of higher order hydrocarbons can increase the risk of flashback induced by autoignition in the premixing section of the combustor. In this work a detailed chemical kinetic model was developed for natural gas fuels that consist of CH4, C2H6, C3H8, nC4H10, iC4H10, and small amounts of nC5H12, iC5H12 and nC6H14 in order to predict ignition behavior at typical gas turbine premixing conditions and to predict CO and NOx emissions at lean premixed combustion conditions. The model was validated for different NOx-pathways using low and high pressure laminar premixed flame data. The model was also extended to include a vitiated kinetic scheme to account for the influence of exhaust gas recirculation on fuel oxidation. The model was employed in a chemical reactor network to simulate a laboratory scale lean premixed combustion system to predict CO and NOx. The current kinetic mechanism demonstrates good predictive capability for NOx emissions at lower temperatures typical of practical lean premixed combustion systems.


Author(s):  
K. O. Smith ◽  
A. C. Holsapple ◽  
H. K. Mak ◽  
L. Watkins

The experimental results from the rig testing of an ultra-low NOx, natural gas-fired combustor for an 800 to 1000 kw gas turbine are presented. The combustor employed lean-premixed combustion to reduce NOx emissions and variable geometry to extend the range over which low emissions were obtained. Testing was conducted using natural gas and methanol. Testing at combustor pressures up to 6 atmospheres showed that ultra-low NOx emissions could be achieved from full load down to approximately 70% load through the combination of lean-premixed combustion and variable primary zone airflow.


Author(s):  
Iarno Brunetti ◽  
Giovanni Riccio ◽  
Nicola Rossi ◽  
Alessandro Cappelletti ◽  
Lucia Bonelli ◽  
...  

The use of hydrogen as derived fuel for low emission gas turbine is a crucial issue of clean coal technology power plant based on IGCC (Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle) technology. Control of NOx emissions in gas turbines supplied by natural gas is effectively achieved by lean premixed combustion technology; conversely, its application to NOx emission reduction in high hydrogen content fuels is not a reliable practice yet. Since the hydrogen premixed flame is featured by considerably higher flame speed than natural gas, very high air velocity values are required to prevent flash-back phenomena, with obvious negative repercussions on combustor pressure drop. In this context, the characterization of hydrogen lean premixed combustion via experimental and modeling analysis has a special interest for the development of hydrogen low NOx combustors. This paper describes the experimental and numerical investigations carried-out on a lean premixed burner prototype supplied by methane-hydrogen mixture with an hydrogen content up to 100%. The experimental activities were performed with the aim to collect practical data about the effect of the hydrogen content in the fuel on combustion parameters as: air velocity flash-back limit, heat release distribution, NOx emissions. This preliminary data set represents the starting point for a more ambitious project which foresees the upgrading of the hydrogen gas turbine combustor installed by ENEL in Fusina (Italy). The same data will be used also for building a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model usable for assisting the design of the upgraded combustor. Starting from an existing heavy-duty gas turbine burner, a burner prototype was designed by means of CFD modeling and hot-wire measurements. The geometry of the new premixer was defined in order to control turbulent phenomena that could promote the flame moving-back into the duct, to increase the premixer outlet velocity and to produce a stable central recirculation zone in front of the burner. The burner prototype was then investigated during a test campaign performed at the ENEL’s TAO test facility in Livorno (Italy) which allows combustion test at atmospheric pressure with application of optical diagnostic techniques. In-flame temperature profiles, pollutant emissions and OH* chemiluminescence were measured over a wide range of the main operating parameters for three fuels with different hydrogen content (0, 75% and 100% by vol.). Flame control on burner prototype fired by pure hydrogen was achieved by managing both the premixing degree and the air discharge velocity, affecting the NOx emissions and combustor pressure losses respectively. A CFD model of the above-mentioned combustion test rig was developed with the aim to validate the model prediction capabilities and to help the experimental data analysis. Detailed simulations, performed by a CFD 3-D RANS commercial code, were focused on air/fuel mixing process, temperature field, flame position and NOx emission estimation.


Author(s):  
S. K. Alavandi ◽  
A. K. Agrawal

Lean premixed combustion of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), and methane (CH4) fuel mixtures with air was investigated experimentally. Combustion at atmospheric pressure was stabilized within porous inert medium made of silicon-carbide coated carbon foam with 4 pores per centimeter. CH4 in the fuel was varied from 100% to 0% (by volume), with the remaining fuel containing equal amounts of CO and H2. Experiments at a fixed air flow rate were conducted by varying the adiabatic flame temperature and fuel composition. Profile of CO and NOx emissions in the axial and transverse directions were taken to identify the post-combustion zone and uniformity of combustion. At a given flame temperature, fuels with CO/H2 produced lower CO and NOx emissions compared to those for CH4. The temperature at the lean blow off limit was significantly lower (compared to CH4) if the fuel contained CO and H2, each greater than 35% by volume.


Author(s):  
K. O. Smith ◽  
M. H. Samii ◽  
H. K. Mak

The results of an on-engine evaluation of an ultra-low NOx, natural gas-fired combustor for a 200 kW gas turbine are presented. The combustor evaluated used lean-premixed combustion to reduce NOx emissions and variable geometry to extend the range over which low emissions were obtained. Test results showed that ultra-low NOx emissions could be achieved from full load down to approximately 50% load through the combination of lean-premixed combustion and variable primary zone airflow.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Lovett ◽  
Nesim Abuaf

An experimental study was conducted to determine the NOx emissions and flame stability associated with various flameholders used to support lean-premixed combustion of natural gas at gas turbine conditions. Data were obtained for velocities of 6 to 24 m/s, initial temperatures of 533 to 650 K, and pressures of 3.4 to 13.6 atm. Bluff-body, perforated-plate, and swirl-stabilized flameholders were tested and compared. The results confirm that NOx emissions at ultra-lean conditions scale with the flame temperature and are essentially independent of flameholder geometry for typical combustor residence times. The stability behavior, however, was strongly affected by flameholder type, illustrating the influence of fluid mechanics on flame stability. The flame stability was related also to the dynamics produced by combustion instability. A swirl-stabilized flameholder demonstrated the best stability characteristics at the expense of flameholder pressure drop.


Author(s):  
Jeffrey Armstrong ◽  
Douglas Hamrin ◽  
Steve Lampe

Dry, low NOx emissions developments in the industrial gas turbine industry have focused on lean-premixed combustion to reduce NOx to single digit parts-per-million (ppmV) emissions. The reduction of thermal NOx is limited by the lowest lean-premix combustion temperatures. To overcome this limit, a thermal oxidizer is applied which can oxidize hydrocarbon fuels at temperatures below those of lean-premixed combustion in a Brayton cycle. This oxidation technique is explained in a combustion taxonomy model. This paper presents the historical development and demonstration of technology with two different recuperated gas turbines operating on landfill gas. A unique fuel-injection strategy was used to introduce the fuel into the inlet of the gas turbine’s air compressor. The technology demonstrated an order-of-magnitude reduction in the emissions of NOx to the parts-per-billion range.


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