Session: 08-03 Enabling Technologies, and Gas Turbine Power Plant

Paper Number: 101731

101731 - A Literature Review of Nox Emissions in Current and Future State-of-the-Art Gas Turbines 

Current U.S. government policy seeks to achieve a completely carbon-free economy by 2050, with a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 (per executive order 14057). To address these goals, the U.S. Department of Energy is evaluating strategies and technologies that support the production, utilization, transport, and storage of hydrogen (via initiatives such as DOE’s Energy Earthshot – Hydrogen and various DOE funding opportunity announcements). A carbon free fuel like hydrogen cannot be overvalued in a dynamic electric energy sector seeking to decarbonize.  One of the most important technologies needed to achieve the goal of a carbon-free electricity sector is a 100% hydrogen-fueled gas turbine. Accommodating hydrogen-based fuels has been a key goal for various original engine manufacturers (OEMs) for many years, but much more research and development (R&D) is needed. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the current state of the art of hydrogen turbine technology, especially in regard to nitrous oxide (NO_X) emissions compared to natural gas fueled turbines. NO_x is the primary criteria pollutant from thermally driven combustion turbines and should be controlled to levels that are equivalent to or below existing standards (as reported “existing standards” for hydrogen fueled gas turbines may need to be re-baselined). This paper will provide an overview of hydrogen as a fuel and various NO_X emissions control techniques that are relevant for hydrogen-based fuels. A conclusion from this overview is that, with some level of R&D, NO_x emissions from hydrogen-fueled gas turbines can be controlled to similar levels seen in natural gas fueled combustion turbines while remaining competitive in terms of performance and efficiency.

Presenting Author: Richard Dennis U.S. Department of Energy

Presenting Author Biography: Mr. Richard Dennis is currently the Technology Manager for Advanced Turbines and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycle Programs at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). These programs support US university, industry and U.S. national laboratory research, development, and demonstration projects. Rich has a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University. From 1983 to 1992 Mr. Dennis worked in the on-site research group of NETL where he conducted research related to pressurized fluidized bed combustion, gasification and gas stream particulate cleanup for advanced coal based power generation. From 1993 to 2000 Mr. Dennis managed contracted research for the DOE Office of Fossil Energy in advanced fossil fuel power generation including coal combustion, gasification, fuel cells, and gas turbines. In 2002 Richard was selected as a Technology Manager. Currently Richard is serving as the Technology Manager for Advanced Turbines, Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Power Cycles and Energy Storage programs at NETL. Richard is an ASME Fellow and recently received the ASME International Gas Turbine Institute Industrial Gas Turbine Award (2021).

Authors:

Richard Dennis U.S. Department of Energy
Henry A. Long III U.S. Department of Energy
Gary Jesionowski U.S. Department of Energy