Combustor Fuel Branch Heating for Hydrogen Flashback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fueling and combustion systems are unable to efficiently supply high levels of hydrogen or pure hydrogen to gas turbine combustors without causing flashback or flame holding conditions, which can damage the fuel nozzles, due to the different burning characteristics and physical properties of hydrogen compared to natural gas.
Innovation Solution
A fuel supply system with multiple injection stages and heat exchangers is used to modify the temperature of fuel, allowing for flexible and efficient combustion of alternative fuels like hydrogen, including separate injection stages and heat exchangers in thermal communication with each branch of the fuel supply circuit to manage fuel temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If high levels of hydrogen or pure hydrogen are supplied to the combustor, then emissions of NOx and other pollutants are significantly reduced or eliminated, but flashback or flame holding conditions occur that can damage the fuel nozzles
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel supply system is divided into multiple independent branches, each with its own heat exchanger and control mechanisms. This segmentation allows different temperatures and flow rates to be applied to different injection stages, preventing flashback while maintaining high hydrogen content combustion.
Solution Approach 2:
Fuel is pre-cooled in heat exchangers before reaching the injection nozzles. This preliminary cooling action reduces the fuel temperature and velocity, preventing the combustion flame from migrating toward the nozzles and causing flashback or flame holding conditions.
2Power
If hydrogen-containing fuels are heated to close the temperature differential with compressed air, then gas turbine power output increases, but density decreases and velocity increases which may exacerbate flashback conditions
Solution Approach 1:
Different branches of the fuel supply system are assigned different temperature profiles based on local requirements. Some branches receive heated fuel for stages where power output is prioritized, while other branches receive cooled fuel for stages where flashback prevention is critical.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts fuel temperature and flow rate for each injection stage based on operating conditions. Heat exchangers and control valves modify fuel properties in real-time to balance power output and flashback prevention requirements.
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 the combustion of high hydrogen content fuels without flashback or flame holding, enhancing operational flexibility and reducing emissions, thus meeting stringent environmental regulations.
Implementation Method 1
at least two heat exchangers fluidly coupled to a thermal fluid supply. Each heat exchanger of the at least two heat exchangers is disposed in thermal communication on a respective branch of the at least two branches for modifying a temperature of fuel within the respective branch
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine combustion system includes a combustor that has at least two injection stages each configured to inject fuel into a combustion chamber of the combustor. A fuel supply circuit is in fluid communication with the at least two injection stages for providing the fuel from a fuel supply to the injection stages. The fuel supply circuit includes at least two branches, each branch being fluidly coupled to a respective injection stage. The gas turbine combustion system further includes at least two heat exchangers fluidly coupled to a thermal fluid supply. Each heat exchanger is disposed in thermal communication on a respective branch of the at least two branches for modifying a temperature of fuel within the respective branch.