GAS POWER SYSTEMS CATALOG I Fuels and Combustion
Fuel Conditioning
As a world leader in the development of gas turbine combustion system technology, GE is not only focused on delivering quality system hardware, but also on systems and components for cleaning and conditioning fuel prior to combustion in the gas turbine. With the largest fleet of gas turbines operating on non-traditional fuels, GE’s flexible fuel solutions typically outperform comparable technologies in both efficiency and reliability. We offer a range of combustion system technologies to support operation on a wide variety of fuels. The following fuel conditioning processes may be applied as a pre-treatment along the liquid or gas fuel systems, to the turbine or combustor to mitigate risks, or as a post-treatment—primarily in the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG)—providing environmental safeguards.
Removal
Some fuels contain high concentrations of compounds that are corrosive or toxic. The removal of these compounds can be accomplished chemically.
Filtration
Filtration often is required to address gases or liquid fuels that might contain sediment, other solid contaminants, or excess moisture. This treatment removes constituents that otherwise might damage fuel system components, or impact gas turbine operability.
Wash
Washing is a treatment used to remove water-soluble contaminants (for example, alkali metals such as sodium and potassium) from a fuel prior to use to avoid potential hot gas path corrosion. This can be accomplished using water injection and a series of centrifuges.
Additive
Additives are used to modify physical or chemical properties of a fuel, or to prevent damage created by an inherent deficiency in a fuel. Examples include additives for lubricity or liquid fuel stabilization.
Inhibitor
Many ash bearing fuels, such as crude oil, HFO, and residual fuel oil, contain vanadium, which creates highly corrosive compounds that can damage coatings and components in a gas turbine’s hot gas path. Inhibitors are added to the liquid fuel upstream of the gas turbine to mitigate the risk of hot corrosion.
Blend
Gas turbines are capable of operating on a variety of fuels, including blends of gases or liquids. Blending can be applicable when there is an insufficient supply of an opportunity fuel or to limit operational risks stemming from use of certain fuels.
Heat
Gas fuel heating may be required to accommodate changes in gas quality or to improve gas turbine performance. Liquid fuel heating may be required to reduce viscosity and allow it to flow through the liquid fuel system.
Startup
Some fuels are too lean (not enough energy/volume) to be capable of starting a gas turbine, or could create a safety risk if they do not ignite. In these cases, a startup fuel is used. Once operating, the turbine can transfer to the primary fuel.
To mitigate combustion-related risks, including those associated with increased fuel reactivity or higher NOx emissions levels, diluents (typically water or steam) are injected in the combustor through dedicated passages in
Dilute the fuel nozzle. Controls
Advanced controls are needed to ensure optimal operation of the gas turbine while operating on a variety of alternative or opportunity fuels. Such controls enhance fuel capabilities and address variations in the Modified Wobbe Index.
Wash
Ash buildup in a gas turbine may impact performance. Higher levels of ash can occur naturally in some fuels; in other cases the ash formed is a result of the reaction with a vanadium inhibitor. A turbine wash can be used to remove the materials that collect on the hot gas path’s components.
Wash
Sulfates are created when sulfur and ammonia react in a selective catalytic reduction system. These materials can reduce HRSG performance by blocking flow paths and reducing heat transfer, requiring an HRSG (post) wash with cleaning agents.
Removal
To conform to NOx and CO environmental regulations, post-combustion removal of such substances from the HRSG may be required.
Post-treatment
Turbine
Combustor
Pre-treatment
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144
