Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TRANSITION (fuTure hydRogen Assisted gas turbiNeS for effective carbon capTure IntegratiON)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2023-12-31
TRANSITION objective is to pave the way for carbon-neutral energy generation from natural gas-fired power plants using gas turbines (GT), by enabling a highly efficient Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) process in the post-combustion phase. This will be achieved by the development of advanced hydrogen assisted combustion technologies capable to permit stable engine operations with high Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) rates leading to high CO2 content in the exhaust gas sent to the CCS unit.
The project has the main ambition to develop advanced combustion technologies for natural gas fired Gas Turbines to permit engine operations with high EGR rates leading to an increase of the CO2 content in the exhaust gases and a drastic reduction of the CCS costs and units' size. The main objectives can be summarized in the following concrete GOALS: 1) Development and validation at full scale engine conditions of EGR advanced GT burners with multifuel capabilities; 2) Development and assessment of high EGR rate GT burners with multifuel capabilities; 3) Assessment of developed GT-EGR advanced burners on real engine configuration for retrofit validation; 4) Assessment of CCS-GT integration and overall system performance; 5) Assessment of global sustainability with environmental/social/economic impact.
The project has the main ambition to develop advanced combustion technologies for natural gas fired Gas Turbines to permit engine operations with high EGR rates leading to an increase of the CO2 content in the exhaust gases and a drastic reduction of the CCS costs and units' size. The main objectives can be summarized in the following concrete GOALS: 1) Development and validation at full scale engine conditions of EGR advanced GT burners with multifuel capabilities; 2) Development and assessment of high EGR rate GT burners with multifuel capabilities; 3) Assessment of developed GT-EGR advanced burners on real engine configuration for retrofit validation; 4) Assessment of CCS-GT integration and overall system performance; 5) Assessment of global sustainability with environmental/social/economic impact.
The technical research activities of the project are arranged into 3 work packages (WP 2, 3 and 4) which are expected to contribute to ovreall main goals.
In the reference period most part of the work was carried out in WP2, with only preliminary investigations performed in WP3 and WP4, according to the original workplan.
WP2 (UNIFI, BH): In the first task of WP2 a fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic study of the impact of EGR on the engine cycle and combustor operating conditions was carried out. A dedicate tool (based on Cantera and Python) was developed and adopted to carry out a sensitivity of several chemical schemes taken from the open literature. The tool was also used to verify the impact of modelling the real EGR by the means of pure CO2 dilution as planned in the experimental tests (Figure 1). The T2.2 has seen the development of a high-fidelity CFD modelling strategy to support the understanding of EGR impact on the GT burner operations and the definition of novel solutions (Figure 2). A novel strategy to handle multi fuel combustion (hydrogen piloting of main natural gas flame) was also developed and validated with experimental results of T2.3. This last task (currently ongoing) has seen an extensive experimental campaign carried out at the THT-Lab of UNIFI where different novel GT burner solutions (retrofittable) have been investigated by the means of PIV, OH* chemiluminescence, exhaust emissions and thermoacoustics. The experimental results are used to support the CFD investigations of the novel solutions: the performance of the EGR optimized burners is evaluated by carrying out Lean Blow transients with increasing levels of EGR through LES calculations. Picture of the test cell is reported in Figure 3
WP3 (DLR, CERFACS, BH and UNIFI): In WP3 preliminary activities to define the arrangement and hardware for the planned high-pressure tests at DLR have been carried out in tasks 3.1 and 3.2 In task 3.3 a first set of investigation have been carried by CERFACS with the development of a ARC reduced chemical reaction mechanism for H2-CH4 combustion with increasing EGR rates (to be used in the planned CFD investigations). A preliminary CFD investigation of the single sector configuration under testing at THT Lab in T2.3 was also carried out.
WP4 (SINTEF, TotalEnergies, BH): The panned definition of the industrial scenarios (GT based power plants) where the EGR optimized retrofittable burners could be adopted, have been analyzed ad discussed by the industry partners supported by SINTEF and UNIFI. In T4.2 a GT performance numerical tool, to be used for the planned GT-CCS integration studies, has been setup by SINTEF in collaboration with UNIFI: a scientific paper is currently under review on this topic. The work in T4.2 has been organized in the flowing main steps:
1) Preliminary mass balances of the gas turbine with EGR
2) Preliminary CO2 capture simulations
3) Preliminary evaluation of the overall system electricity demand
As one of the outcomes, the percentage variation of the SRD (black) and O2 concentration to the GT (green) vs. CO2 concentration in the exhaust gas with EGR is reported in Figure 4.
In the reference period most part of the work was carried out in WP2, with only preliminary investigations performed in WP3 and WP4, according to the original workplan.
WP2 (UNIFI, BH): In the first task of WP2 a fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic study of the impact of EGR on the engine cycle and combustor operating conditions was carried out. A dedicate tool (based on Cantera and Python) was developed and adopted to carry out a sensitivity of several chemical schemes taken from the open literature. The tool was also used to verify the impact of modelling the real EGR by the means of pure CO2 dilution as planned in the experimental tests (Figure 1). The T2.2 has seen the development of a high-fidelity CFD modelling strategy to support the understanding of EGR impact on the GT burner operations and the definition of novel solutions (Figure 2). A novel strategy to handle multi fuel combustion (hydrogen piloting of main natural gas flame) was also developed and validated with experimental results of T2.3. This last task (currently ongoing) has seen an extensive experimental campaign carried out at the THT-Lab of UNIFI where different novel GT burner solutions (retrofittable) have been investigated by the means of PIV, OH* chemiluminescence, exhaust emissions and thermoacoustics. The experimental results are used to support the CFD investigations of the novel solutions: the performance of the EGR optimized burners is evaluated by carrying out Lean Blow transients with increasing levels of EGR through LES calculations. Picture of the test cell is reported in Figure 3
WP3 (DLR, CERFACS, BH and UNIFI): In WP3 preliminary activities to define the arrangement and hardware for the planned high-pressure tests at DLR have been carried out in tasks 3.1 and 3.2 In task 3.3 a first set of investigation have been carried by CERFACS with the development of a ARC reduced chemical reaction mechanism for H2-CH4 combustion with increasing EGR rates (to be used in the planned CFD investigations). A preliminary CFD investigation of the single sector configuration under testing at THT Lab in T2.3 was also carried out.
WP4 (SINTEF, TotalEnergies, BH): The panned definition of the industrial scenarios (GT based power plants) where the EGR optimized retrofittable burners could be adopted, have been analyzed ad discussed by the industry partners supported by SINTEF and UNIFI. In T4.2 a GT performance numerical tool, to be used for the planned GT-CCS integration studies, has been setup by SINTEF in collaboration with UNIFI: a scientific paper is currently under review on this topic. The work in T4.2 has been organized in the flowing main steps:
1) Preliminary mass balances of the gas turbine with EGR
2) Preliminary CO2 capture simulations
3) Preliminary evaluation of the overall system electricity demand
As one of the outcomes, the percentage variation of the SRD (black) and O2 concentration to the GT (green) vs. CO2 concentration in the exhaust gas with EGR is reported in Figure 4.
The TRANSITION project will address its objectives by carrying out research activities on 2 main technological areas
1. EGR applied to gas turbine engines
2. integration of CCS units with gas turbines, adopting two main investigation methods
The researches will be carried out by the following 2 main investigation methodology:
3. CFD turbulent combustion modelling
4. optical and laser-based combustion diagnostics.
For each of these 4 pillars a contribution beyond the state-of-the-art will be achieved when reaching the final objectives of the project. In particular the following main achievements could be considered a relevant step beyond state of the art:
• Experimental validation of high EGR rates operations, also with multi-fuel configuration and up to full scale conditions
• LES CFD modelling of complex multi-fuel and/or multi-oxidizer flame configurations
• Dedicated optimized reduced chemical kinetic schemes for EGR multi-fuel operations
TRANSITION will primarily focus on activities from TRL1 to TRL3/4, carrying out studies mainly in laboratory environment to reach the single nozzle flame tube proof of concept for GT-EGR integration. Validation of the proposed solutions at full engine scale in a single sector test rig will represent a significant step towards market.
1. EGR applied to gas turbine engines
2. integration of CCS units with gas turbines, adopting two main investigation methods
The researches will be carried out by the following 2 main investigation methodology:
3. CFD turbulent combustion modelling
4. optical and laser-based combustion diagnostics.
For each of these 4 pillars a contribution beyond the state-of-the-art will be achieved when reaching the final objectives of the project. In particular the following main achievements could be considered a relevant step beyond state of the art:
• Experimental validation of high EGR rates operations, also with multi-fuel configuration and up to full scale conditions
• LES CFD modelling of complex multi-fuel and/or multi-oxidizer flame configurations
• Dedicated optimized reduced chemical kinetic schemes for EGR multi-fuel operations
TRANSITION will primarily focus on activities from TRL1 to TRL3/4, carrying out studies mainly in laboratory environment to reach the single nozzle flame tube proof of concept for GT-EGR integration. Validation of the proposed solutions at full engine scale in a single sector test rig will represent a significant step towards market.