Gas Turbine Emissions Improvements by Advances in Design, Analysis, Materials, Manufacturing, and Control Technology

Abstract

TutorialThis tutorial provides a general overview of the state of gas turbine combustion technology. Fundamental considerations for key pollutants are discussed along with techniques to control them. Since the commercial introduction of lean combustion in the early 1990s, it has become the preferred technology to minimize NOx emissions from a gas turbine, while Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) has remained a necessary technique to further reduce NOx emissions in some regulated areas with poor air quality. Improved designs have been enabled by more capable analysis, manufacturing techniques, and materials. All of this is leading to lower emissions engines with greater fuel flexibility and durability. Traditional diffusion flame combustion systems generate NOx between 100 and 400 ppm on natural gas, while early DLE systems started at 42 ppm and are now capable of single digit NOx