Fuel Cell–Combustor Control for Gas Turbine Emissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face challenges in achieving desired combustor power while minimizing emissions, as combustor temperature affects carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) levels, with existing systems failing to effectively control these emissions across varying operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a fuel cell and combustor assembly with a controller that adjusts fuel cell operating conditions to maintain combustor temperature within a specific range, using methods such as increasing fuel cell temperature to reduce CO emissions and decreasing temperature or injecting combustion gases to reduce NOx emissions, thereby optimizing combustion efficiency and emissions control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If combustor power is adjusted to meet fan speed demand, then fan speed demand is met, but combustor temperature changes in a way that increases emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The controller receives feedback from both fan speed sensors and emission sensors, allowing it to coordinate adjustments of combustor power and temperature. When fan speed demand changes, the system adjusts combustor power while simultaneously monitoring emission levels and fine-tuning temperature to minimize emissions impact, thus resolving the contradiction between meeting speed demand and controlling emissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple operating parameters including combustor power, fuel cell temperature, and air-fuel ratios in response to changing fan speed demands. This dynamic coordination of parameters allows the system to meet varying speed requirements while continuously optimizing combustion conditions to reduce emissions.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If fuel cell temperature is increased to reduce CO, then CO emissions are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel cell assembly serves multiple functions: it generates electrical power for the gas turbine engine and simultaneously acts as a temperature control mechanism for reducing CO emissions. By adjusting fuel cell temperature, the system achieves emission reduction while the fuel cell continues its primary power generation function, thus managing complexity through multi-functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in lower emissions while meeting fan speed or thrust demands, maintaining efficient combustion and reducing pollutant levels within the desired temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
The system includes a fuel cell assembly defining a fuel cell assembly operating parameter and including a fuel cell
Implementation Method 2
a combustor configured to receive a flow of fuel from the fuel supply and combusting the fuel
Implementation Method 3
The turbine section extracts energy therefrom for rotating the compressor section and fan assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine engine includes a fuel cell assembly including a fuel cell stack and defining a fuel cell assembly operating parameter, a fuel source, and a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section arranged in serial flow order. The combustor is configured to receive a flow of fuel from the fuel source and further configured to receive output products from the fuel cell stack. A controller is configured to perform operations including receiving data indicative of system operation conditions, determining a set of fuel cell operating conditions to move the system emission output into or maintain the system emission output within an emissions range, and controlling the fuel cell assembly operating parameter according to the determined set of fuel cell operating conditions.