Session: 08-01 Hydrogen-Fired Gas Turbines

Paper Number: 102660

102660 - Hydrogen Co-Firing Demonstration at Georgia Power’s Plant McDonough: M501G Gas Turbine 

The Gas Turbine Power industry is extremely interested in hydrogen as an alternative fuel natural gas as a means of reducing CO₂ emissions. Tests are now being executed to further industry knowledge on co-firing natural gas with increasing levels of H₂.  Challenges with blending high enough levels of H₂ to make significant impacts on CO₂ emissions will be numerous.  This report serves to provide information of the preparation and execution phases of a hydrogen gas blending and burning project conducted at the Southern Company Plant McDonough combined cycle plant on gas turbine unit 6B.  The unit is a Mitsubishi 501G combustion turbine with a nameplate load of 265MW at baseload and a dry low NO_x (DLN) combustion system.  This plant is well suited to serve as an exemplar for other projects given its practicality and commonality to other, modern, gas turbines.  The gas turbine fuel delivery modifications conducted were done on a temporary basis given the nature of the test (proving that it can be done) and the lack of available local H₂ required to run continuously to full load with the H₂ blend levels that were achieved during the test.  However, the controls and mechanical changes were completed as though it was a permanent installation to validate the control philosophy. The results of the preparation and testing execution indicate positive results, which met the expectation of the testing program and are detailed in this report.  Preparation included procedures around Hydrogen safety, handling and testing that were validated during project execution. The positive result obtained during the testing phase proved that with proper design and review, a team atmosphere, and a receptive and engaged customer, success on a difficult goal such as blending Hydrogen gas in a large CCGT can be achieved.  The hope is that the results and lessons learned (commercial, legal and technical) from this study can and will be leveraged by other interested parties to take next steps to increase hydrogen blending levels or explore the potential of other low-carbon fuels toward the goal of complete decarbonization.

Presenting Author: James Harper EPRI

Presenting Author Biography: Jim Harper has over 20 years’ experience as a thermal systems engineer in a range of industries. Jim is a Principle Technical Lead in the Gas Turbine Technology Division at EPRI. EPRI is the Electric Power Research Institute headquartered in the US but with a presence across the world. EPRI’s mission is advancing safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy for society through global collaboration, science and technology innovation, and applied research. Jim has extensive gas turbine design, control, testing and fleet experience. He was a Combustion Technical Leader at General Electric where he was a system owner of Gas Turbine combustion system mechanical, thermal and control architectures. I addition Jim worked in the electric vehicle automotive industry where he was a senior thermal systems design lead responsible for all thermal systems design, validation and fleet support including battery, motor, power electronics and cabin thermal systems. He has authored over 10 patents in Gas Turbine Design and control as well as EV thermal system control architectures.

Authors:

James Harper EPRI
Scott Cloyd Mitsubishi Power Americas
Travis Pigon Mitsubishi Power Americas
Benjamin Thomas Mitsubishi Power Americas
Jeff Wilson Southern Company
Eric Johnson Southern Company
David R. Noble EPRI