Skip to main content
Ir a la página de inicio de la Comisión Europea (se abrirá en una nueva ventana)
español español
CORDIS - Resultados de investigaciones de la UE
CORDIS

Stable high hydrogen low NOx combustion in full scale gas turbine combustor at high firing temperatures

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - HELIOS (Stable high hydrogen low NOx combustion in full scale gas turbine combustor at high firing temperatures)

Período documentado: 2023-03-01 hasta 2024-08-31

The HELIOS project ambition is high: it will make a big leap in hydrogen combustion within gas turbines, clearly beyond the latest state-of-the-art.
Nowadays, the increasing awareness of the need to decarbonize the economy has put pressure on the power generation sector to reduce their share of CO2 emissions. In this context, gas turbines are the most robust, flexible, proven and cost-effective technology especially for distributed and large-scale power generation. A proven approach to decarbonize the fuel of gas turbines, and thus their carbon intensity is to mix natural gas with increasing amounts of H2. As such, it becomes essential yet technologically challenging for gas turbines to operate on any variable mixture of natural gas and H2 including 100% H2.
HELIOS will develop needed technology for H2 combustion as a global retrofit solution for operating and installed gas turbines based on the commercially operating FlameSheet™ combustor platform contributed by our project partner, Thomassen Energy BV. Essential for this approach is a sound fundamental understanding of H2 combustion, combined with advanced numerical modelling and measurement techniques in a full-size combustor. This is imperative to realize the required technological developments for utilization of H2-enriched natural gas with the FlameSheet™ combustor. HELIOS will start with gas-turbine combustion rig testing at well-defined lab conditions (TRL 4) and will reach realistic conditions in a relevant environment (TRL 6) by the end of the project, with full-scale high pressure rig test validation.
Besides the technical developments, HELIOS will help enable and accelerate the emergence of an immense innovative ecosystem and create economically feasible future adoption and commercialization of this technology at cost effective and scale. The decarbonized repurposing of these existing power generation assets becomes vital as a complement to the massive introduction of inherently intermittent renewable energy sources used for electricity generation. Gas turbines offer grid inertia and stability whilst also generating at scale, dispatchable firming capacity needed to balance. Clearly, HELIOS will contribute significantly to solving the substantial challenges that Europe faces by making its energy system secure, cost competitive, clean, flexible and resilient.
HELIOS objectives:
• Enable Low NOx combustion of H2-enriched fuels in gas turbines
• Operating the system at any mixture between 100% natural gas and 100% H2
• Low NOx emissions (< 9ppmv)
• The FlameSheet™ combusor framework will be modified to operate safely at 100% H2 at high firing temperatures
• The combustor can be used as a newly built or retrofit option for existing gas turbine systems on the market ranging from 1MW to 500MW
• The combustor will be applicable to all industrial and heavy systems as well as industrial scale gas turbines
The work described in the HELIOS project has been divided into 6 work packages, of which WP2-5 focus on technical and scientific aspects. The key achievements in this reporting period are:
WP2: Hydrogen Combustion Fundamentals. Key technical developments in hydrogen combustion research achieved by WP2 include:
• Development and successful testing of a quartz-glass model burner.
• Implementation of a preferential diffusion model for complex 3D turbulent flows.
• Initial numerical and experimental results on flashback, with ongoing efforts to align these findings.
WP3: FlameSheet™ Combustor Development. This WP focused on advancing the design and optimization of the FlameSheet™ combustor for high-H2 gas turbine combustors at high firing temperatures. Major outcomes include:
• Identification and optimization of critical combustor design elements to manage high firing temperatures and varying hydrogen content in fuel.
• Redesign efforts targeting aerodynamic optimization, flashback prevention, reduced NOx emissions, and improved hydrogen start-up capabilities.
WP4: High Hydrogen System Engineering and Measurement Techniques. Notable advancements in system engineering and measurement techniques:
• Enhanced system performance through computer vision to detect flame pulsations and combustion instabilities.
• Development of a high-pressure probe and optical diagnostics systems to capture combustion data under challenging conditions.
• Commissioned high-speed and low-speed camera systems for comprehensive monitoring of combustion phenomena.
WP5: FlameSheet™ Combustor Testing. Significant accomplishments in testing the FlameSheet™ combustor at high pressures include:
• Completion of a high-pressure measurement campaign, collecting critical data on NOx formation, flashback, and instabilities.
• Successful testing of new combustor designs at increased firing temperatures, with early demonstrations of start-up and ramp-up on 100% H2.
• Achieved NOx reduction through premixer optimization, with further refinement ongoing.
These achievements collectively advance HELIOS toward its goals, with continued emphasis on open communication, technical innovation, and strategic outreach.
Strengthening the European industrial technology base; Both the H2-enriched gas-turbine technology as well as large scale testing facilities will be further strengthened. Several European companies (TEN, DLR, CCA) are positioned as leaders worldwide with respect to the design, construction, operation and testing of gas-turbines. One of the major objectives of HELIOS is to enable the use of hydrogen-enriched fuels for the energy sector, without compromising product security of energy supply. The equipment and systems of the existing power plant will be utilized as much as possible. Furthermore, the existing gas turbines are kept being used and job security is ensured, which will help to minimize the social impact of the transformation to renewable energy. Reliable hydrogen utilization will fasten the development of hydrogen infrastructure, and thus promote the transform from fossil power generation to renewable.
Within HELIOS a socioeconomic evaluation is envisioned. Specific attention is paid to public acceptance by incorporating end-users in the Sounding Board. An important outcome of the HELIOS project will be the “Handbook of requirements and recommendations for the implementation of high hydrogen gas turbines” addressing the techno-economics as well as social aspects.
Improving EU energy security; The HELIOS project concept aims on widening the H2 operation window of gas turbines, by implementing the FlameSheet™ combustor in power plant operators, it gives them significant flexibility since the power plant can now operate the gas turbine in principle with any kind of natural gas – H2 mixture
Video on flashback occurrence in a small scale test rig
schematic graphic of the HELIOS project
HELIOS large scale test at DLR
HELIOS logo
Flamesheet combustor
Mi folleto 0 0