Hydrogen Combustion Chamber for CO2-Free Steam Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam power plants often rely on external firing methods using coal, nuclear waste heat, or gas turbine exhaust gases, which result in pollutant emissions and are not suitable for CO2-free and NOx-free operations, especially when integrating hydrogen combustion.
Innovation Solution
A combustion chamber system that burns pure hydrogen with oxygen, producing water vapor as a combustion product, designed for integration into existing steam power plants or industrial applications, utilizing a ceramic flame tube with modular construction and steam passages to optimize hydrogen combustion and reduce environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional external firing methods (coal, nuclear waste heat, gas turbine exhaust) are used in steam power plants, then power generation is achieved, but pollutant emissions (CO2, NOx) occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the combustion process by using hydrogen instead of conventional fuels (coal, gas, oil). This parameter change transforms the combustion products from CO2 and NOx to primarily water vapor, eliminating harmful emissions while maintaining power generation capability through the steam cycle
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses oxygen enrichment or pure oxygen combustion to accelerate and control the hydrogen combustion process. This strong oxidant approach ensures complete combustion of hydrogen, maximizing energy release for power generation while preventing formation of harmful byproducts and enabling efficient conversion to mechanical work in the turbine
2Object-generated harmful factors
If hydrogen combustion is implemented in steam power plants, then CO2-free and NOx-free operation is achieved, but integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The combustion chamber system designed for hydrogen combustion is constructed to be universally applicable in multiple configurations - it can replace conventional boilers entirely, or be integrated as an additional firing system in existing steam power plants. The modular design with standardized components enables flexible deployment across different plant types and scales, reducing integration complexity despite the novel combustion chemistry
Solution Approach 2:
The combustion system is divided into modular segments including separate burners, mixing zones, and combustion chambers that can be independently designed, tested, and installed. This segmentation allows for gradual integration into existing plants without requiring complete system replacement, thereby managing complexity through phased implementation
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
The system enables pollutant-free turbine operation with water vapor as a byproduct, achieving CO2-free and NOx-free combustion, suitable for both power generation and industrial applications, while maintaining efficiency across various steam pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The combustion chamber system (1) has, as central part, a combustion cylinder (7) with a combustion chamber (30). The combustion chamber system (1) is used for burning hydrogen with the aim of heating a flow of steam
Data Source
AI summary
A combustion chamber (“steam booster”) system for burning hydrogen with the aim of heating a flow of steam and/or of increasing the steam states of the hydrogen, and a method and a plant. In the combustion chamber system, hydrogen and preferably oxygen can be burned in the presence of water and/or water vapor in a combustion chamber, steam can flow around the combustion chamber on the outside in an intermediate space, in particular can flow over the entire length of the combustion chamber in the intermediate space of a flame tube.