Session: 04-20 Combustor Design II

Paper Number: 129063

129063 - FlameSheetTM Combustion System Operation and Experience With Refinery Offgas in a 7FA Gas Turbine 

The petroleum refining industry is a significant industrial consumer of energy and consequently is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Certain processes such as fluid catalytic cracking units (FCCU) produce significant quantities of by-product gases. Onsite recycling and consumption of by-product gases is critical in reducing sources of GHG in a refinery. This paper describes the operational experience on a 7FA Gas Turbine located in Newark, NJ at a powerplant that is co-located at a petroleum refinery. The 7FA Gas turbine, originally designed for operation with natural gas, was retrofitted with a FlameSheet™ combustion system and additional output and efficiency upgrade. It was then demonstrated to operate with a blend of natural gas (NG) and refinery off-gas (ROG) whose composition was varied throughout the validation. The blend gas into the gas turbine operated up to >80%mass of ROG and low methane levels <30%vol of CH4. The blend gas variations tested had significant quantities of ethane/ethylene, propane/propene and hydrogen. Hydrogen levels greater than 20%vol were demonstrated in steady operation. At all times, emissions compliance was held with Gas Turbine output emissions <9 ppm NOx and CO measured at load levels up to baseload and peak overfire. This paper demonstrates the operation experience and presents the detailed results of combustor tuning and operability with ROG blends relative to the baseline Natural Gas operation, as well as provides potential reasons for the changes in observed combustor performance.

Presenting Author: Fred Hernandez Power Systems Mfg. LLC

Presenting Author Biography: Fred Hernandez, PE has worked in the aerospace industry for 20 years, with extensive work in aerothermal combustion design including conceptual development, laboratory testing and field implementation of novel combustion devices for land based gas turbines with emphasis on low Emissions technologies, additive manufacturing, and reliable operation with alternative fuels such as Hydrogen, Heavy Hydrocarbons, Refinery Offgas, Ammonia and Fuel Oil. He currently serves as Associate Chief Engineer with Power Systems Mfg, LLC.

Authors:

Fred Hernandez Power Systems Mfg. LLC
Matthew Yaquinto Power Systems Mfg. LLC
Bryan Kalb Power Systems Mfg. LLC
Marc Paskin Power Systems Mfg. LLC