Impact of Plasma Combustion Technology on Micro Gas Turbines Using Biodiesel Fuels

Abstract

The adoption of biorenewable alternative fuel resources from biofuels (ethanol or biodiesel) has produced promising solutions to reduce some toxic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from gas turbine engines (GTEs). Despite the reduced hydrocarbon associated with adopting alternative bio-renewable fuel resources, GTE operations still emit toxic gases due to inefficient engine performance. In this study, we assess the impact of the integration of plasma combustion technology on a micro-GTE using biodiesel fuel from animal fat with the aim of addressing performance, fuel consumption, and GHG emission reduction limitations. Laboratory design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and results evaluation were conducted at Kuwait’s Public Authority for Applied Education and Training. The result indicates the lowest toxic emissions of sulfur, nitrogen oxide (NO), NO2, and CO were from the biodiesel blended fuels. The improved thermal efficiency of GTE biodiesel due to the volume of hydrogen plasma injected improves the engine’s overall combustion efficiency. Hence, this increases the compressor inlet and outlet firing temperature by 13.3 °C and 6.1 °C, respectively. The Plasma technology produced a thrust increment of 0.2 kgf for the highest loading condition, which significantly impacted horsepower and GTE engine efficiency and reduced the cost of fuel consumption.

Evaluating the Performance and Exhaust Emissions of a Micro Gas Turbine Engine Fueled by Kerosene and Olive Oil Methyl Ester Blends

“…The reduction in NOx emission is 10.9%, 20.4%, 31.7% and 33.8% for B20, B40, B60, and B80 respectively compared to the conventional NOx emission for K100. In general, this trend agrees well with the results reported by Cavarzera et al [27], Manigandan et al [29], Reksowardojo et al [32], and Alrashidi et al [37].…”

“…This effect is in accompanying of higher burning temperatures which motivate reaction rates and improve combustion efficiency, as shown in Figure 9. The presence of oxygen within biofuels further improves the reaction rates and reduces the CO emissions which agrees with the studies of Reksowardojo et al [32] and Alrashidi et al [37]. The recorded CO levels for B20, B40, B60, and B80 were 12.4%, 28%, 36% and 38% less than the neat kerosene K100 emission, respectively.…”

“…In that context, the improvement in CO emissions is about 9.6%, 18.8%, 27.4% and 28.8% for B20, B40, B60 and B80 respectively compared to neat kerosene K100 levels as averaged over the entire speed range. These outcomes are concurred in the studies of Singh et al [4], Manigandan et al [29], Reksowardojo et al [32], and Alrashidi et al [37], while Al-Saraf and Al-Jumaily [25] reported an increase in CO emission with higher ethanol percentage. This can be attributed to the premixing of ethanol with air before the combustion chamber, as well as the fact that the main fuel was gaseous LPG.…”

“…Biofuels gave rise to fewer NOx, CO, and sulfur emissions than neat diesel. Thermal efficiency and thrust were considerably amplified at higher unit loads [37]. The concept of an integrated gasification plant comprising a micro gas turbine was proposed to simultaneously generate electricity and dry olive pomace, thus reducing handling and disposal costs in Spain's olive oil industry.…”

Application of Fatty Acids Distillation Products as a Substitute for Heavy Fuel Oil in Stationary Combustion Chambers

“…The energy system transition to CO 2 -neutral requires the change and diversification of energy sources. One of the possible ways is to apply biomass-derived fuels [1]. Within different options, liquid biofuels are of special interest due to their similarities with fuels obtained using crude oil processing [2,3].…”