Low heating value fuel burning capabilities of general electric industrial gas turbines

Abstract

The advent of higher fuel prices and operational costs associated with energy production have had a profound impact on the application of the gas turbine as a prime mover. This Paper describes an extensive program carried out by the General Electric Company to demonstrate the ability of both the heavy-duty and aircraft-derivative gas turbines to operate satisfactorily while burning a wide range of lower heating value fuels, typical of industrial process or gas conditioning plants. Analytical predictions of flammability limit changes due to fuel composition variations, and combustion inlet air temperature effects are compared with small scale atmospheric burner tests. Finally, full scale single burner and sector test results are presented which demonstrate the capability of present generation combustion systems to operate on lower heating value fuels.