Emission, LBO and Combustion Dynamic Characterization of Several Alternative Fuels

Abstract

Regulations are becoming increasingly stringent regarding gas turbine emissions. In addition fuel costs are at record highs. Power plant operators are exploring all alternatives for reducing operational cost. Refinery offgas represents an attractive cost reduction measure if one could burn it in the gas turbine. Hydrogen and methane are often the main components of such offgas. In an attempt to define the potential for an LEC-III® (Power Systems Mfg., LLC. Low Emission Combustor) performance with such an offgas, rig testing has been successfully carried out with several alternative fuels. Small quantities of hydrogen blended with natural gas and burned in specific zones of the combustor allowed emissions levels of sub 2ppm NOx and sub 9ppm CO to be demonstrated at full base load engine operating conditions on the test rig. Based upon rig to engine benchmarking these same emissions levels should be realized upon the full engine.