LAPSE:2023.35901
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.35901
The Fuel Flexibility of Gas Turbines: A Review and Retrospective Outlook
Michel Molière
May 26, 2023
Land-based gas turbines (GTs) are continuous-flow engines that run with permanent flames once started and at stationary pressure, temperature, and flows at stabilized load. Combustors operate without any moving parts and their substantial air excess enables complete combustion. These features provide significant space for designing efficient and versatile combustion systems. In particular, as heavy-duty gas turbines have moderate compression ratios and ample stall margins, they can burn not only high- and medium-BTU fuels but also low-BTU ones. As a result, these machines have gained remarkable fuel flexibility. Dry Low Emissions combustors, which were initially confined to burning standard natural gas, have been gradually adapted to an increasing number of alternative gaseous fuels. The paper first delivers essential technical considerations that underlie this important fuel portfolio. It then reviews the spectrum of alternative GT fuels which currently extends from lean gases (coal bed, coke oven, blast furnace gases…) to rich refinery streams (LPG, olefins) and from volatile liquids (naphtha) to heavy hydrocarbons. This “fuel diet” also includes biogenic products (biogas, biodiesel, and ethanol) and especially blended and pure hydrogen, the fuel of the future. The paper also outlines how, historically, land-based GTs have gradually gained new fuel territories thanks to continuous engineering work, lab testing, experience extrapolation, and validation on the field.
Keywords
Alternative Fuels, Biofuels, combustion, fossil fuels, fuel flexibility, gas turbine, Hydrogen, low emissions
Suggested Citation
Molière M. The Fuel Flexibility of Gas Turbines: A Review and Retrospective Outlook. (2023). LAPSE:2023.35901
Author Affiliations
Molière M: Laboratoire Réactions et Génie des Procédés, Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
16
Issue
9
First Page
3962
Year
2023
Publication Date
2023-05-08
Published Version
ISSN
1996-1073
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Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: en16093962, Publication Type: Review
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LAPSE:2023.35901
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doi:10.3390/en16093962
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May 26, 2023
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CC BY 4.0
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[v1] (Original Submission)
May 26, 2023
 
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May 26, 2023
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Calvin Tsay
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