GE Vernova mentioned it has accomplished a validation take a look at collection for its superior Dry Low NOx (DLN) hydrogen combustion expertise, designed for the corporate’s B- and E-class gasoline generators.
The group on Jan. 15 mentioned the take a look at marketing campaign was carried out at GE Vernova’s International Know-how Middle in Greenville, South Carolina. The testing section “demonstrated profitable operation on pure gasoline and hydrogen blends and on 100% hydrogen with dry emissions under 25ppm NOx [nitric oxide],” GE Vernova mentioned in a information launch.
GE Vernova officers mentioned the corporate plans to make the brand new DLN system accessible for brand new and current B- and E- gasoline generators as early as subsequent yr. The corporate has been pushing for gasoline turbine gas flexibility, and mentioned that to this point it has greater than 120 gasoline generators worldwide which have the capability to function or are at present working on fuels that comprise hydrogen. These generators have produced greater than 530 TWh of electrical energy throughout a runtime of greater than 8.5 million hours.
Technological Development
“We’re proud to rejoice this technological development aiming to allow the decarbonization of our B- and E-Class fleet the world over,” mentioned Jeremee Wetherby, who leads the Carbon Answer group at GE Vernova. “Growing a DLN combustion system in a position to burn 100% hydrogen safely and reliably is an engineering problem. One of many methods hydrogen gas differs from pure gasoline is that it burns a lot quicker. Its flame velocity is roughly eight instances larger and presents danger of flashback.
“By the take a look at marketing campaign, the GE Vernova crew demonstrated very sturdy operation for the brand new DLN expertise, with out flashback throughout a spread of hundreds and gas from pure pure gasoline to 100% hydrogen,” mentioned Wetherby.
GE Vernova famous that combustion dynamics or noise also can current challenges throughout operations with hydrogen gas. The corporate mentioned its “prototype carried out very properly in that class with comparatively low ranges even when working on pure hydrogen. Check outcomes additionally point out that the expertise can ship larger availability and longer upkeep intervals similar to present DLN combustors working on pure gasoline.” The corporate added that these capabilities are “of explicit significance for industrial clients who rely on gasoline generators to energy their operations reliably.”
Micromixer Know-how
A brand new micromixer-based gas air pre-mixer is foundational to the prototype combustor functionality, in response to the corporate. GE Vernova’s analysis on micromixer expertise began in 2005 as a part of collaboration with the U.S. Division of Vitality. Micromixer-based gas premixers have been a part of the product portfolio for greater than seven years, together with on GE Vernova’s H Class gasoline turbine fleet.
Current analysis carried out on the firm’s Superior Analysis Middle in New York, and on the International Know-how Middle in Greenville, centered on bettering micromixer and axial gas staging for hydrogen functionality. This analysis culminated with the development of a full-size 6B DLN combustor prototype and testing in full-scale circumstances (strain, circulation, temperature) within the combustion take a look at facility at Greenville.
GE Vernova has an put in base of about 2,800 items of its B- and E-Class generators, which energy industrial processes and operations. The corporate mentioned it has hydrogen combustor choices in use at present, with rankings as much as 100% hydrogen, however these combusts use a diluent similar to water to handle emissions.
The corporate mentioned the brand new hydrogen DLN combustor expertise is anticipated to current a number of advantages versus the present techniques:
- Eradicated use of water or different diluent.
- Elevated effectivity: 4% to 7% enchancment in mixed cycle warmth fee.
- Improved availability and longer upkeep intervals.
- Diminished NOx emissions.
“By profitable checks GE Vernova validated this new 100% hydrogen succesful combustion expertise, aiming to supply our B- and E-class industrial gasoline generators house owners with the utmost versatile operability vary on pure gasoline, hydrogen or blends of each with out using diluent like water for emissions abatement,” mentioned Wetherby.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
