Fuel Flexible Gas Turbine Technology Integrated with Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Hydrogen Carrier Fuels
Abstract
Fuel Flexible Gas Turbine Technology Integrated with Exhaust Gas Recirculation and Hydrogen Carrier Fuels The Department of the Navy seeks technical solutions that can significantly reduce CO2 emissions from its ships without compromising their capability. To reduce CO2 emissions significantly and eventually achieve net-zero CO2 emissions, it is critical to develop technologies that can not only improve overall thermal efficiency of gas turbine (GT) engines, but also allow for the use of future low/zero carbon fuels that can be produced on-demand providing tactical advantages in contested logistics. It is also necessary to integrate CO2 capture from the exhaust into existing propulsion architectures, while considering the constraints imposed by Navy ship applications.The proposed work addresses two pathways for ship decarbonization: (1) through the implementation of carbon capture systems that enable the use of renewal carbon-based fuels (e.g., CH3OH) and (2) through the eventual soleuse of zero-carbon fuels (e.g., NH3, H2). The technological barriers for each pathway are different but equally challenging. The use of renewable fuels with carbon capture will require changes to the engine cycle, where significant exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) can be used to enhance the concentration of CO2 in the exhaust stream and increase the efficiency and reduce the size of a carbon capture system. EGR systems have primarily been applied for ground power generation and they are still in an early stage of maturity facing operability limitations. Two zero-carbon fuels of interest are hydrogen and ammonia, where ammonia (NH3) has recently garnered extensive interest as a future carbon-free fuel for ship-board applications because of its transportability. However, it still requires further technology development due to the challenges associated with low flammable characteristics and fuel NOx emission. In this regard, this project aims to provide technical solutions for these two prime approaches. Major technical challenges that will be addressed are:#Implementation of EGR with conventional and carbon-based renewable fuels in a GT that ensures acceptable combustor operability.#Feasibility Demonstration of an integrated fuel-cracking and combustion system for H2 carrier fuel (ammonia) that meets combustor operability targets and allows for fuel flexibility. The goal of this project is to develop and demonstrate fuel-flexible GT technologies integrated with EGR and H2 carrier fuelsthat can support the current effort of decarbonizing Naval fleets. As a short-to-mid-term solution, the project will produce foundational information on GT-EGR technology to improve carbon capture efficiency through collaboration with Navy Decarbonization Consortium partners. For a mid-to-long term solution, this project aims to develop enabling technologies for H2 carrier fuels (e.g. NH3) and to demonstrate technological feasibility by integrating GT combustor with on-demand cracking system for H2 carrier fuels. The proposed technologies will meet the Navy#s 2030 decarbonization goals and offer tactical advantages through: (1) reduced carbon-based emissions via novel EGR strategies to optimize exhaust stream CO2 concentration for conventional point-source carbon capture systems, (2) increased fuel flexibility to support future decarbonized and/or H2 carrier fuels. Approved for Public Release
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 24, 2023
- Source ID
- N000142312724
Entities
People
- Sang Hee Won
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of South Carolina