Advanced combustion technologies for future gas turbines

LI Suhui; ZHANG Guihua; WU Yuxin

doi:10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2022.25.001

PDF(6806 KB)

Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology) ›› 2021, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (12) : 1423-1437. DOI: 10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2022.25.001

SPECIAL COLUMN:KEY CORE TECHNOLOGY

Advanced combustion technologies for future gas turbines

{{article.zuoZhe_EN}}

Author information +

History +

Abstract

Gas turbine technology development trends have changed dramatically to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations and reduce CO₂ emissions. However, current lean premixed combustion based on swirling flows cannot adapt to these changes. Therefore, advanced combustion technologies are reviewed here to identify new gas turbine designs by introducing their working principles, R&D results, and analyses of their readiness levels and key performance metrics such as NO_x emissions. A method is given to evaluate their overall performance and the ease-of-implementation to narrow the technology pathway choices and identify major research directions.

Key words

gas turbines / combustion technologies / fuel flexibility / NO_x / carbon emissions

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

LI Suhui, ZHANG Guihua, WU Yuxin. Advanced combustion technologies for future gas turbines[J]. Journal of Tsinghua University(Science and Technology). 2021, 61(12): 1423-1437 https://doi.org/10.16511/j.cnki.qhdxxb.2022.25.001

References

[1] DAVIS L B, WASHAM R M. Development of a dry low NO_x combustor[C]//ASME 1989 International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition. Toronto, Canada:ASME, 1989.
[2] DAVIS L B. Dry low NO_x combustion systems for GE heavy-duty gas turbines[C]//ASME 1989 International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition. Birmingham, USA:ASME, 1996.
[3] VANDERVORT C L. 9 ppm NO_x/CO combustion system for "F" class industrial gas turbines[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2001, 123(2):317-321.
[4] TANAKA Y, NOSE M, NAKAO M, et al. Development of low NO_x combustion system with EGR for 1700℃-class gas turbine[J]. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review, 2013, 50(1):1-6.
[5] HADA S, TSUKAGOSHI K, MASADA J, et al. Test results of the world's first 1600℃ J-series gas turbine[J]. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Review, 2012, 49(1):18-23.
[6] LEONARD G, STEGMAIER J. Development of an aeroderivative gas turbine dry low emissions combustion system[J]. Journal of Engineering for Turbines and Power, 1994, 116(3):542-546.
[7] GOH E, SIRIGNANO M, LI J, et al. Prediction of minimum achievable NO_x levels for fuel-staged combustors[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2019, 200:276-285.
[8] U.S. Energy Information Administration. International energy outlook[R]. Washington, DC:U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2019.
[9] 郭磊, 宋文蛰, 王相平, 等. IGCC燃用低热值燃料的燃气轮机运行性能优化[J]. 中国电力, 2019, 52(2):14-19. GUO L, SONG W Z, WANG X P, et al. Performance optimization of the IGCC gas turbine fueled with low heat value syngas[J]. Electric Power, 2019, 52(2):14-19. (in Chinese)
[10] KOBAYASHI H, HAYAKAWA A, SOMARATHNE K D K A, et al. Science and technology of ammonia combustion[J]. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 2019, 37(1):109-133.
[11] ROMOSER C E, HARPER J, WILSON M B, et al. E-class late fuel staging technology delivers flexibility leap[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2016:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Seoul, South Korea:ASME, 2016.
[12] KARIM H, NATARAJAN J, NARRA V, et al. Staged combustion system for improved emissions operability and flexibility for 7HA class heavy duty gas turbine engine[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2017:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA:ASME, 2017.
[13] PENNELL D A, BOTHIEN M R, CIANI A, et al. An introduction to the Ansaldo GT36 constant pressure sequential combustor[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2017:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA:ASME, 2017.
[14] WINKLER D, GENG W, ENGELBRECHT G, et al. Staged combustion concept for increased operational flexibility of gas turbines[C]//Global Power and Propulsion Society Forum. Zurich, Switzerland:Global Power and Propulsion Society, 2017, 1:184-194.
[15] HOFERICHTER V, AHRENS D, KOLB M, et al. A reactor model for the NO_x formation in a reacting jet in hot cross flow under atmospheric and high pressure conditions[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2014:Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. Düsseldorf, Germany:ASME, 2014.
[16] WEINZIERL J, KOLB M, AHRENS D, et al. Large-eddy simulation of a reacting jet in cross flow with NO_x prediction[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2017, 139(3):031502.
[17] 钱文凯, 朱民, 李苏辉, 等. 燃气轮机分级燃烧室NO_x排放动力学模拟研究[J]. 动力工程学报, 2019, 39(1):33-40. QIAN W K, ZHU M, LI S H, et al. A kinetics study on NO_x emission of an axially-staged gas turbine combustor[J]. Journal of Chinese Society of Power Engineering, 2019, 39(1):33-40. (in Chinese)
[18] 郑祥龙. 燃料轴向分级燃烧污染物排放及其交叉射流火焰特性研究[D]. 北京:中国科学院大学, 2020. ZHENG X L. Investigations on the pollutant emissions of the axial-fuel-staged combustion and characteristics of the jet-in-crossflow flames[D]. Beijing:University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2020. (in Chinese)
[19] SAMULSEN S. Rich burn, quick-mix, lean burn (RQL) combustor, the gas turbine handbook. Section 3. 2. 1. 3. U. S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV, 2006.
[20] MCKINNEY R, CHEUNG A, SOWA W, et al. The Pratt & Whitney TALON X low emissions combustor:Revolutionary results with evolutionary technology[C]//45th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit. Reno, USA:AIAA, 2007.
[21] FEITELBERG A S, LACEY M A. The GE rich-quench-lean gas turbine combustor[J]. Journal of Engineering for Turbines and Power, 1998, 120(3):502-508.
[22] STRAUB D L, CASLETON K H, LEWIS R E, et al. Assessment of rich-burn, quick-mix, lean-burn trapped vortex combustor for stationary gas turbines[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2005, 127(1):36-41.
[23] SULLIVAN-LEWIS E, HACK R, MCDONELL V. Performance assessment of a gas fired RQL combustion system operated in a vitiated air stream[C]//48th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. Atlanta, USA:AIAA, 2012.
[24] LIU H Y, QIAN W K, ZHU M, et al. Kinetics modeling on NO_x emissions of a syngas turbine combustor using rich-burn, quick-mix, lean-burn combustion method[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2020, 142(2):021005.
[25] IKI N, KURATA O, MATSUNUMA T, et al. NO_x reduction in a swirl combustor firing ammonia for a micro gas turbine[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2018:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Oslo, Norway:ASME, 2018.
[26] LI S, ZHANG S, ZHOU H, et al. Analysis of air-staged combustion of NH₃/CH₄ mixture with low NO_x emission at gas turbine conditions in model combustors[J]. Fuel, 2019, 237:50-59.
[27] LI Z X, LI S H. Kinetics modeling of NO_x emissions characteristics of a NH₃/H₂ fueled gas turbine combustor[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2021, 46(5):4526-4537.
[28] YORK W D, ZIMINSKY W S, YILMAZ E. Development and testing of a low NO_x hydrogen combustion system for heavy-duty gas turbines[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2013, 135(2):022001.
[29] LEE H, HERNANDEZ S, MCDONELL V, et al. Development of flashback resistant low-emission micro-mixing fuel injector for 100% hydrogen and syngas fuels[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2009:Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Orlando, USA:ASME, 2009.
[30] HUGHES M J, BERRY J D. Advanced multi-tube mixer combustion for 65% efficiency[C]. U.S. DoE UTSR workshop. Orlando, USA:U.S. DoE, 2019.
[31] HAQUE M A, NEMITALLAH M A, ABDELHAFEZ A, et al. Review of fuel/oxidizer-flexible combustion in gas turbines[J]. Energy & Fuels, 2020, 34(9):10459-10485.
[32] ELKADY A M, EVULET A, BRAND A, et al. Exhaust gas recirculation in DLN F-class gas turbines for post-combustion CO₂ capture[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2008:Power for Land, Sea, and Air. Berlin, Germany:ASME, 2008.
[33] LI H J, ELKADY A M, EVULET A. Effect of exhaust gas recirculation on NO_x formation in premixed combustion system[C]//47th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting Including The New Horizons Forum and Aerospace Exposition. Orlando, USA:AIAA, 2009.
[34] PFEFFERLE W C, CARRUBBA R V, HECK R M, et al. Catathermal combustion new process for low emissions fuel conversion[C]//ASME-AMER SOC Mechanical Engineering. New York, USA:ASME-AMER, 1976, 98(5):94-95.
[35] SMITH L, ETEMAD S, KARIM H, et al. Catalytic combustion, the gas turbine handbook[M]. Section 3. 2. 2. U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, 2006.
[36] FANT D B, JACKSON G S, KARIM H, et al. Status of catalytic combustion R&D for the department of energy advanced turbine systems program[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2000, 122(2):293-300.
[37] YEE D Y, LUNDBERG K, WEAKLEY C K. Field demonstration of a 1.5 MW industrial gas turbine with a low emissions catalytic combustion system[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2001, 123(3):550-556.
[38] SMITH L L, KARIM H, CASTALDI M J, et al. Rich-catalytic lean-burn combustion for low-single-digit NO_x gas turbines[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2005, 127(1):27-35.
[39] LIEUWEN T, MCDONELL V, SANTAVICCA D, et al. Burner development and operability issues associated with steady flowing syngas fired combustors[J]. Combustion Science and Technology, 2008, 180(6):1169-1192.
[40] CHENG R K. Ultralean low swirl burner:5735681. 1998-04-07.
[41] CHENG R K. Low swirl combustion, the gas turbine handbook[M]. Section 3. 2. 1. 4. 2. U. S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV, 2006.
[42] CHENG R K, LITTLEJOHN D, NAZEER W A, et al. Laboratory studies of the flow field characteristics of low-swirl injectors for adaptation to fuel-flexible turbines[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2008, 130(2):021501.
[43] EMADI M, KAUFMAN K, BURKHALTER M W, et al. Examination of thermo-acoustic instability in a low swirl burner[J]. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2012, 40(39):13594-13603.
[44] OCHRYMIUK T, BADUR J. Flameless oxidation at the GT26 gas turbine:Numerical study via full chemistry[J]. Task Quarterly, 2001, 5(2):239-246.
[45] LEVY Y, SHERBAUM V, ARFI P. Basic thermodynamics of FLOXCOM, the low-NO_x gas turbines adiabatic combustor[J]. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2004, 24(11-12):1593-1605.
[46] KRUSE S, KERSCHGENS B, BERGER L, et al. Experimental and numerical study of MILD combustion for gas turbine applications[J]. Applied Energy, 2015, 148:456-465.
[47] PERPIGNAN A A V, RAO A G, ROEKAERTS D J E M. Flameless combustion and its potential towards gas turbines[J]. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, 2018, 69:28-62.
[48] KHALLAGHI N, HANAK D P, MANOVIC V. Techno-economic evaluation of near-zero CO₂ emission gas-fired power generation technologies:A review[J]. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering, 2020, 74:103095.
[49] SAANUM I, DITARANTO M. Experimental study of oxy-fuel combustion under gas turbine conditions[J]. Energy & Fuels, 2017, 31(4):4445-4451.
[50] LIU C Y, CHEN G, SIPÖCZ N, et al. Characteristics of oxy-fuel combustion in gas turbines[J]. Applied Energy, 2012, 89(1):387-394.
[51] QIAN W K, LIU H Y, ZHU M, et al. Kinetics study of a staged combustor concept for oxy-fuel combustion gas turbine cycles[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2019:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Phoenix, Arizona, USA:ASME, 2019.
[52] SUNDKVIST S G, DAHLQUIST A, JANCZEWSKI J, et al. Concept for a combustion system in oxy-fuel gas turbine combined cycles[J]. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2014, 136(10):101513.
[53] 李苏辉, 钱文凯, 朱民. 一种分级供氧燃烧室及燃气轮机分级供氧燃烧方法:201910492576.7. 2020-10-13. LI S H, QIAN W K, ZHU M. Graded oxygen supply combustion chamber and graded oxygen supply combustion method of combustion gas turbine:201910492576.7. 2020-10-13. (in Chinese)
[54] MCCLUNG A, BRUN K, DELIMONT J. Comparison of supercritical carbon dioxide cycles for oxy-combustion[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2015:Turbine Technical Conference and Exposition. Montreal, Quebec, Canada:ASME, 2015.
[55] COOGAN S, GAO X, MCCLUNG A, et al. Evaluation of kinetic mechanisms for direct fired supercritical oxy-combustion of natural gas[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2016:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Seoul, South Korea:ASME, 2016.
[56] DELIMONT J, MCCLUNG A, PORTNOFF M. Direct fired oxy-fuel combustor for sCO₂ power cycles:1 MW scale design and preliminary bench top testing[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2017:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA:ASME, 2017.
[57] DELIMONT J, MCCLUNG A, PORTNOFF M. Simulation of a direct fired oxy-fuel combustor for sCO₂ power cycles[C]//The Fifth International Symposium on Supercritical CO₂ Power Cycles. San Antonio, USA:SWRI, 2016, 2:29-31.
[58] DELIMONT J, ANDREWS N, CHORDIA L. Computational modeling of a direct fired oxy-fuel combustor for sCO₂ power cycles[C]//The 6th International Supercritical CO₂ Power Cycles Symposium. Pittsburg, USA:SWRI, 2018, 134:1-11.
[59] STRAKEY P A. Oxy-combustion modeling for direct-fired supercritical CO₂ power cycles[J]. Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 2019, 141(7):070706.
[60] CHOWDHURY A S M A R, BADHAN A, CABRERA L A, et al. Conceptual design of a supercritical oxy-fuel combustor based on LOx/methane rocket engine technologies[C]//14th International Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. Salt Lake City, USA:AIAA, 2016.
[61] MANIKANTACHARI K R V, MARTIN S, VESELY L, et al. A strategy of reactant mixing in methane direct-fired sCO₂ combustors[C]//ASME Turbo Expo 2018:Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Oslo, Norway:ASME, 2018.
[62] KARIMI M, OCHS B, LIU Z F, et al. Measurement of methane autoignition delays in carbon dioxide and argon diluents at high pressure conditions[J]. Combustion and Flame, 2019, 204:304-319.
[63] GVLEN S C. Pressure gain combustion advantage in land-based electric power generation[J]. Journal of the Global Power and Propulsion Society, 2017, 1:288-302.
[64] KAILASANATH K. Review of propulsion applications of detonation waves[J]. AIAA Journal, 2000, 38(9):1698-1708.
[65] LU F K, BRAUN E M. Rotating detonation wave propulsion:Experimental challenges, modeling, and engine concepts[J]. Journal of Propulsion and Power, 2014, 30(5):1125-1142.
[66] ANAND V, GUTMARK E. A review of pollutants emissions in various pressure gain combustors[J]. International Journal of Spray and Combustion Dynamics, 2019, 11, doi:10.1177/1756827719870724.
[67] ZHOU R, WU D, WANG J P. Progress of continuously rotating detonation engines[J]. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 2016, 29(1):15-29.
[68] WANG B, WANG J P. Introduction to the special section on recent progress on rotating detonation and its application[J]. AIAA Journal, 2020, 58(12):4974-4975.
[69] MA J Z, LUAN M Y, XIA Z J, et al. Recent progress, development trends, and consideration of continuous detonation engines[J]. AIAA Journal, 2020, 58(12):4976-5035.
[70] BOLLAND O, MATHIEU P. Comparison of two CO₂ removal options in combined cycle power plants[J]. Energy Conversion and Management 1998, 39(16-18):1653-1663.
[71] MILCAREK R J, AHN J. Rich-burn, flame-assisted fuel cell, quick-mix, lean-Burn (RFQL) combustor and power generation[J]. Journal of Power Sources, 2018, 381:18-25.