Supercritical LPG Fuel Conditioning for Gas Turbine Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fuel conditioning systems for gas turbines using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) face challenges in dynamically controlling and managing the fuel in both liquid and gaseous phases, particularly in achieving efficient operation and stability during dynamic and steady-state conditions.
Innovation Solution
A fuel conditioning and control system that converts liquid LPG to supercritical LPG, utilizing a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a series of sensors and pumps to manage flow, with a vaporizer/heat exchanger to adjust temperature and pressure, ensuring optimal fuel delivery to the gas turbine based on real-time operational demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LPG fuel is used in gas turbines, then fuel versatility is improved, but fuel flow control stability deteriorates due to property fluctuations between liquid and gaseous phases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical state parameter of LPG fuel from liquid/gaseous phases to supercritical phase, which has stable density and flow properties. This parameter change resolves the instability caused by phase fluctuations while maintaining fuel versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transition by heating LPG above its critical temperature and maintaining it in supercritical state. This phase transition eliminates the liquid-gaseous phase changes that cause flow control instability, while still allowing the fuel to be used in gas turbine engines.
2Ease of operation
If dynamic control of LPG fuel flow is implemented, then operational flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The supercritical fuel system serves multiple functions: it provides dynamic control capability, ensures stable flow properties, and maintains compatibility with existing gas turbine infrastructure. This multi-functionality justifies the added control system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control using sensors to monitor supercritical fuel properties and automatically adjusts control mechanisms to maintain stable flow. This feedback loop enables dynamic operational flexibility while keeping the system manageable through automated control.
3Reliability
If LPG is heated to supercritical state, then fuel flow stability is improved, but energy consumption increases due to heating requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of LPG to supercritical state before fuel injection, ensuring stable flow properties during combustion. This preliminary action prevents instability during operation, justifying the energy investment in heating.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the temperature parameter to supercritical levels, the system achieves stable fuel flow characteristics. The energy consumed in heating is offset by the improved combustion efficiency and operational reliability of the gas turbine.
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
Enables dynamic and steady-state control of gas turbines, enhancing durability and operational stability by managing LPG fuel in its liquid, gaseous, and supercritical states, reducing trips caused by fuel property fluctuations and allowing operation with various LPG compositions.
Implementation Method 1
a vaporizer/heat exchanger to adjust temperature and pressure
Implementation Method 2
converts liquid LPG to supercritical LPG
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a programmable logic controller (PLC) and a series of sensors and pumps to manage flow
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A fuel conditioning and control system (20) provides dynamic control and steady state operations of a gas turbine (300) provided fueled by supercritical liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The fuel conditioning and control system (20) comprises a storage for LPG fuel; a fuel delivery sub-system (100) connecting the storage to turbomachinery; and a control system (20). The gas turbine (300) includes a gas turbine core control (206) that provides at least one operational data of the gas turbine (300) to the control system (20). The fuel delivery sub-system (100) includes at least one sensor for sensing at least one property of the LPG fuel in the fuel delivery sub-system (100), where the at least one sensor providing data on the at least one property of the LPG fuel to the control system (20). The control system (20) analyzes the data on the at least one property of the LPG fuel and at least one operational data of the gas turbine (300) for dynamic control of LPG fuel to the gas turbine (300) under dynamic and steady state conditions.