Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc.

Other

Robert Anthony Corr, Ii

Sarento George Nickolas

Ralph Albert Dalla Betta

David Yee

John Barnes

Jon McCarty

Mark A Spencer

Tim Caron

Timothy J Caron

Disclosed is a unique fuel and air premixing system for a gas turbine catalytic combustion system. The mixer utilizes a multi-channel counter-rotating swirler with aerodynamically shaped fuel pegs located upstream of the swirler. The premixing system provides the downstream catalyst with a fuel-air mixture sufficiently uniform for proper catalyst operation and wide operating limits. Features have been incorporated in the system to make it resistant to flameholding.

Fuel-air premixing system for a catalytic combustor

The present additional control strategy has been developed to allow the gas turbine to operate at lower load or at other conditions where the total fuel required by the gas turbine is not optimum for full combustion of the fuel. The present invention manages air that bypasses the catalytic combustor and air that bleeds off of the compressor discharge. The bypass system changes the fuel air ratio of the catalytic combustor without affecting the overall gas turbine power output. The bleed system also changes the fuel air ratio of the catalytic combustor but at the cost of reducing the overall gas turbine efficiency. The key advantage of a catalytic combustor with a bypass and bleed system and the inventive control strategy is that it can maintain the catalyst at optimum low emissions operating conditions over a wider load range than a catalytic combustor without such a system.

Design and control strategy for catalytic combustion system with a wide operating range

Methods and apparatus for control of NO in catalytic combustion systems, and more particularly to control of thermal or/and prompt NO produced during combustion of liquid or gaseous fuels in the combustor sections of catalytic combustor-type gas turbines, by controlled injection of water in liquid or vapor form at selected locations, orientations, amounts, rates, temperatures, phases, forms and manners in the compressor and combustor sections of gas turbines. The ratio of thermal NO ppm reduction to water addition, in weight %, is on the order of 4-20, with % NO reduction on the order of up to about 50-80% and NO of below 2 ppm. Liquid water, steam or superheated steam can be used to reduce NO in combustion systems operating at reaction zone temperatures above 900&deg; C., preferably 1400&deg; C. to 1700&deg; C. The amount of water added is sufficient to provide a concentration of water in the range of from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the total air and fuel mixture flowing into the post catalyst reaction zone. Water is introduced simultaneously or sequentially in a plurality of locations, at selected rates, amounts, temperatures, forms, and purity, preferably in accord with a suitable control algorithm.

Process and apparatus for control of NOx in catalytic combustion systems

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El Cajon, CA, United States of America

Robert Anthony Corr, Ii