Design and Preliminary Results of a Fuel Flexible Industrial Gas Turbine Combustor

Abstract

The work described in this paper is a part of the DOE/LeRc “Advanced Conversion Technology Project” (ACT). The program is a multiple contract effort with funding provided by the Department of Energy and Technical Program Management provided by NASA LeRc. It is anticipated that future industrial gas turbine engines will require fuel flexibility. The emphasis in this paper is the fuel flexible combustor technology developed under the “Low NOx Heavy Fuel Combustor Concept Program” for application to the Detroit Diesel Allison (DDA) Model 570-K industrial gas turbine engine. The technology, to achieve emission goals, emphasizes dry NOx reduction methods. Due to the high levels of fuel bound nitrogen (FBN) control of NOx can be effected through a staged combustor with a rich initial combustion zone. A RICH/QUENCH/LEAN (RQL) variable geometry combustor is the technology that will be presented to achieve low NOx from alternate fuels containing FBN. The results will focus on emissions and durability for fuel flexible operation.