Micro Gas Turbine Role in Distributed Generation with Renewable Energy Sources

Abstract

To become sustainable, the production of electricity has been oriented towards the adoption of local and renewable sources. Distributed electric and thermal energy generation is more suitable to avoid any possible waste, and the Micro Gas Turbine (MGT) can play a key role in this scenario. Due to the intrinsic properties and the high flexibility of operation of this energy conversion system, the exploitation of alternative fuels and the integration of the MGT itself with other energy conversion systems (solar field, ORC, fuel cells) represent one of the most effective strategies to achieve higher conversion efficiencies and to reduce emissions from power systems. The present work aims to review the results obtained by the researchers in the last years. The different technologies are analyzed in detail, both separately and under a more complete view, considering two or more solutions embedded in micro-grid configurations.

Fully Coupled Whole-Annulus Investigation of Combustor–Turbine Interaction with Reacting Flow

“…These turbines are beneficial due to their ability to operate on various alternative fuels like biogas, hydrogen, and liquid biofuels, and they also have a low initial investment cost. A study by De Robbio [1] emphasized the increasing importance of micro-gas turbines in producing both electric and thermal energy from renewable sources. This paper also discusses how micro-gas turbines could be integrated with other energy systems such as Energies 2024, 17, 873 2 of 21 solar fields, ORCs, and fuel cells.…”

“…Miki et al [7] used the Open National Combustion Code to simulate a 1/15 sector of a realistic combustor and first-stage high-pressure turbine. They performed three different cases: (1) without the vane and (2,3) with the vane at different clocking conditions. They found that the presence of the vane caused a noticeable difference in the flowfield.…”

Design and Thermo-Economic Analysis of an Integrated Solar Field Micro Gas Turbine Biomass Gasifier and Organic Rankine Cycle System

“…De Robbio widely illustrated in the review [10] the potentiality of MGTs, reporting the latest implementations of this technology and evidencing the flexibility of this power system. As matter of fact, this characteristic makes it possible to use the supply of fuels with chemical and physical properties usually different from those of the standard fuel that is natural gas (NG).…”

“…Micro gas turbines can operate with liquid fuels as well. The possibility to utilize alternative fuels also allows for the integration of this plant with other different low environmental impact systems [10].…”

Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen–Natural Gas Blended Fuels for 400 MW Combined Cycle Power Plants (CCPPs)

“…Cameretti et al suggested a method that does not cause flashbacks even when blending more than 10% hydrogen into natural gas using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) [24]. The well-known problem of flashback at higher hydrogen concentrations can be prevented by using water dilution [25] Recently, gas turbines have been developed, such as the distributed electric and thermal energy generation to avoid any possible waste [26]. Combustor development is one of the key technologies of gas turbines, and the GE DLN-2.6 combustor is capable of 15% hydrogen cofiring, which is limited to 5% in actual operation.…”