Design and Numerical Investigations of an Afterburner System Using Methane-Hydrogen Blends

Abstract

The gas turbine industry strongly committed to develop gas turbines operating with 100% hydrogen till 2030, such fully supporting the transformation of the European natural gas grid into a renewable-based energy system by overcoming technical challenges and ensuring that this transformation takes place swiftly. By extending the fuel capabilities of gas turbines to hydrogen, their role can become predominant in the energy transition period but also in long-term energy strategies. In combined cycle configuration (CCGT), gas turbines are already the cleanest form of thermal power generation. For the same amount of electricity generated, gas turbines running on natural gas emit 50% less CO2 emissions than coal-fired power plants. Mixing renewable gas (e.g., green hydrogen, biogas) with natural gas enables further reduction in net CO2 emissions. In this paper pure hydrogen and blends of hydrogen methane will be studied as fuel in order to predict the behavior of afterburner system with a new designed geometry.

Experimental Research on an Afterburner System Fueled with Hydrogen–Methane Mixtures

“…Based on the configuration presented in the patent, a new geometry was developed capable of using as fuel blends of hydrogen/methane (60% H 2 /40% CH 4 , 80% H 2 /20% CH 4 ) and pure hydrogen. The geometry design method and steps are presented in [21]. The afterburner system is composed of a casing and a flame holder assembly.…”

“…Based on the configuration presented in the patent a new geometry was developed capable to use as fuel blends of hydrogen/(60% H 2 + 40% CH 4 , 80% H 2 + 20% CH 4 ) and pure hydrogen. The geometry design method and steps are presented elsewhere [21]. Previous studies [22] suggest that incorporating up to 20% hydrogen by volume is unlikely to introduce significant alterations to the risks already associated with natural gas delivery.…”