Session: 04-36 Combustion Operations

Paper Number: 152812

A FlameSheet™ Combustion System With Cracked Ammonia As a Fuel 

This work explores the modifications taken to enable a FlameSheet™ combustion system to utilize a mixture of 75% H2 and 25% N2 as a fuel, simulating (completely) cracked ammonia. Hydrogen-fired combustion turbines will play a critical role in the decarbonization of the energy sector as renewable energy sources achieve increased market penetration. The scarcity of hydrogen at large quantities in today’s market demands fuel flexible combustion technology in order to be futureproof. Retrofittable technology to reduce carbon emissions from existing gas turbine power plants are desirable to aid with the transition and enable cost-effective interim solutions for an eventual net-zero carbon economy. Due to the low volumetric density of gaseous hydrogen (GH2) and the cryogenic conditions needed for hydrogen to remain liquid (LH2), ammonia (NH3) is an attractive hydrogen carrier for transporting vast quantities of hydrogen across great distances to areas lacking the natural resources to produce clean hydrogen. Combustion of ammonia has its own challenges, namely the production of huge levels of NOx from the fuel-bound nitrogen. Equipment may be installed at local sites to split NH3 into elemental H2 and N2, removing the fuel-bound nitrogen. Additional equipment to purify the hydrogen stream can be eliminated if the resulting cracked gas composition may be directly fired safely (without flashback) in a gas turbine. The volumetric flow of the cracked gas mixture is even greater than high-purity hydrogen due to the accompanying nitrogen and presents additional challenges.

Recent high pressure rig testing results at engine relevant conditions are highlighted in this paper to showcase the fuel flexibility of the FlameSheet™ combustion system and its ability to operate with any blend of natural gas and cracked ammonia (0-100% of mixture of 75% of H2 and 25% N2). A fuel mixing skid with three streams (for natural gas, hydrogen, and nitrogen) was used to generate fuel gas compositions representative of blends of natural gas and cracked ammonia. Relative differences between flame stability, emissions, and combustion dynamics trends will also be compared between natural gas and H2/N2 operation. Considerations are also given for engine operations constraint with an integrated ammonia cracker as a bottoming cycle to prepare for subsequent engine integration and field testing in a cogeneration facility.

Presenting Author: Nicolas Demougeot Power Systems Mfg.

Presenting Author Biography: Nicolas is a Global Chief Engineer at PSM-Hanwha and was most recently heading the Engineering department at Thomassen Energy. He held positions in both the service and the development sides of the industry over his 20-year career.
Nicolas’ design experience includes world class ultra-low pollutant combustors such as LECIII™ and FlameSheet™, but also the generic, multiplatform optimizer AutoTune.
He took interest in Hydrogen over 25 years ago and has both personal and professional goals of helping with kick starting the Hydrogen economy.
Nicolas owns an Engineer degree from the National Superior School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Poitiers, France and an Executive Master with L’Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau, France.
Nicolas owns several patents related to combustion and control design.

Authors:

Nicolas Demougeot Power Systems Mfg.
Lucky Tran Power Systems Mfg.
Fred Hernandez Power Systems Mfg.
Ramesh Keshava Bhattu Power Systems Mfg.
Bryan Kalb Power Systems Mfg.,
Matthew Yaquinto Power Systems Mfg.
Ryan Piersa Power Systems Manufacturing