Combustion Characteristics of the GE LM2500 Combustor With Mydrogen-Carbon Monoxide-Based Low Btu Fuels

Abstract

An experimental test program was conducted with the objective of evaluating the combustion performance of fuel gases comprised of mixtures of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen. These gases were intended to be representative of alternate fuels that might be produced by air blown coal or biomass gasifiers. The purpose of this test program was to identify if the LM2500 combustion system would burn fuels at neating values (150 Btu/SCF-250 Btu/SCF) typical of those produced bv gasifier processes. Two combustor configurations were tested and two representative gas compositions were evaluated. The objectives of this test were to determine the flammability or burning limits for tne two combustor designs and the impact of the low heating value gas on combustor exit temperature performance. Both designs exhibited burning limits substantially below the target caloric level. The exit temperature measurement showed the exit temperature distribution quality was adversely affected due to the high volumetric gas flows. However, this exit temperature distribution degradation is not severe enough to make the burning of a low heating value fuel pronibitive in the LM2500 engine.