Implementation of a Microturbine in a Hydrogen Energy Storage and Generation System
Abstract
The energy needs of the Navy and the Department of Defense demand renewability, reliability, and resilience. Diverse means of energy production, including hydrogen gas combustion, support these requirements. The overarching goal of this research is to develop a system that produces and stores hydrogen and then combusts the hydrogen in a commercial microturbine to produce electricity. This thesis focuses on fueling a Capstone C30 MicroTurbine with hydrogen. Future research will produce a complete system that uses renewable resources, reliably produces electricity to meet demand, and demonstrates fuel resiliency. The implementation of the C30 enables the use of a renewable resource in a reliable and resilient system. A system component with the capability to produce energy from hydrogen (in addition to methane and propane) indicates resilience in fuel choices. If the primary fuel is unavailable, secondary fuels fulfill the demand for energy. Resilient technologies must use several fuels with varying properties. Computational fluid dynamic models establish expected operating differences between different types of fuel. Data collected from the C30 establish operating differences between light hydrocarbon fuels (natural gas, propane) and hydrogen gas. Benefits and challenges of using hydrogen gas-fueled microturbines and recommended improvements are discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2019
- Accession Number
- AD1080301
Entities
People
- Brianna M. Kaufmann
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School