In a recent joint research project, a new FLOX®-combustion system was developed to couple a fixed-bed gasifier with a micro gas turbine (MGT). Product gases from biomass gasification exhibit low calorific values and varying compositions of mainly H2, CO, CO2, N2, and CH4. Furthermore, combustion characteristics differ significantly compared to the commonly used natural gas. As the FLOX-technology is considered as efficient and fuel-flexible featuring low emissions of hazardous pollutants, the design of the lower calorific value (LCV) combustor is based on it. It contains a two-staged combustor consisting of a jet-stabilized main stage adapted from the FLOX-concept combined with a swirl stabilized pilot stage. The combustor was operated in a Turbec T100 test rig using an optically accessible combustion chamber, which allowed OH*-chemiluminescence and OH-PLIF measurements for various fuel compositions. In particular, the hydrogen content in the synthetically mixed fuel gas was varied from 0% to 30%. The exhaust gas composition was additionally analyzed regarding CO, NOx, and unburned hydrocarbons. The results provide a comprehensive insight into the flame behavior during turbine operation. Efficient combustion and stable operation of the MGT was observed for all fuel compositions, while the hydrogen showed a strong influence. It is remarkable that with hydrogen contents higher than 9%, no OH radicals were detected within the inner recirculation zone, while they were increasingly entrained below hydrogen contents of 9%. Without hydrogen, the inner recirculation zone was completely filled with OH radicals and the highest concentrations were detected there. Therefore, the results indicate a different flame behavior with low and high hydrogen contents. Although the flame shape and position were affected, pollutant emissions remained consistently below 10 ppm based on 15% O2. Only in the case of 0% hydrogen, CO-emissions increased to 43 ppm, which are still meeting the emission limits. Thus, the combustor allows operation with syngases having hydrogen contents from 0% to 30%.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
April 2019
Research-Article
Optical Measurements of a Lower Calorific Values-Combustor Operated in a Micro Gas Turbine With Various Fuel Compositions
Timo Zornek,
Timo Zornek
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
e-mail: timo.zornek@dlr.de
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
e-mail: timo.zornek@dlr.de
Search for other works by this author on:
Thomas Mosbach,
Thomas Mosbach
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40
,Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
Manfred Aigner
Manfred Aigner
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40
,Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
Timo Zornek
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
e-mail: timo.zornek@dlr.de
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
e-mail: timo.zornek@dlr.de
Thomas Mosbach
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40
,Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Manfred Aigner
German Aerospace Center (DLR),
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Stuttgart 70569, Germany
Institute of Combustion Technology,
Pfaffenwaldring 38-40
,Stuttgart 70569, Germany
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received June 26, 2018; final manuscript received July 10, 2018; published online December 7, 2018. Editor: Jerzy T. Sawicki.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Apr 2019, 141(4): 041032 (7 pages)
Published Online: December 7, 2018
Article history
Received:
June 26, 2018
Revised:
July 10, 2018
Citation
Zornek, T., Mosbach, T., and Aigner, M. (December 7, 2018). "Optical Measurements of a Lower Calorific Values-Combustor Operated in a Micro Gas Turbine With Various Fuel Compositions." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. April 2019; 141(4): 041032. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040908
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Cited By
Image-based flashback detection in a hydrogen-fired gas turbine using a convolutional autoencoder
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Fuel Thermal Management and Injector Part Design for LPBF Manufacturing
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
An investigation of a multi-injector, premix/micromix burner burning pure methane to pure hydrogen
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Related Articles
Development of a Hydrogen Micro Gas Turbine Combustor: Atmospheric Pressure Testing
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (April,2024)
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of NH 3 /H 2 /N 2 Combustion in a Premixed/Stratified Swirl Burner
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (January,2025)
Development of a Hydrogen Microgas Turbine Combustor: NO x Emissions and Secondary Air Injection
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (February,2025)
An Experimental Study of Lean Blowout With Hydrogen-Enriched Fuels
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (April,2012)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Introduction
Consensus on Operating Practices for Control of Water and Steam Chemistry in Combined Cycle and Cogeneration
Numerical Modeling of N O x Emission in Turbulant Spray Flames Using Thermal and Fuel Models
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology, 3rd, (ICMET-China 2011), Volumes 1–3
Risk Mitigation for Renewable and Deispersed Generation by the Harmonized Grouping (PSAM-0310)
Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Probabilistic Safety Assessment & Management (PSAM)