The Effects of LBG Composition and Combustor Characteristics on Fuel NOx Formation

Abstract

The low Btu gas (LBG) combined gas and steam turbine power cycle is a potentially attractive alternative to the direct coal fired steam cycle because of the potential for low sulfur emissions and high overall cycle efficiency. However, LBG may contain ammonia (NH3) which could be converted to nitrogen oxides (NOx) under typical combustion conditions. This paper examines the effects of LBG composition and combustor design on NOx emissions. Low Btu gases of varying compositions were synthesized from bottled gases and fired in three atmospheric pressure flame reactors: diffusion flame reactor, flat flame reactor and catalytic reactor. Nitrogen oxide emissions were found to be most sensitive to the concentrations of NH3 and hydrocarbon fuel gas in the synthetic LBG. Lowest NOx emissions were produced by the diffusion flame reactor operating at near stoichiometric conditions and the catalytic reactor operating fuel rich.