Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines
To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, gas turbine plants using hydrogen/methane blends provide a crucial solution for decarbonizing thermal power generation and promoting a sustainable energy transition. In this context, the development of fuel-flexible burners is fundamental. This work reports the...
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| author | Antonio Di Nardo Eugenio Giacomazzi Matteo Cimini Guido Troiani Silvera Scaccia Giorgio Calchetti Donato Cecere |
| author_facet | Antonio Di Nardo Eugenio Giacomazzi Matteo Cimini Guido Troiani Silvera Scaccia Giorgio Calchetti Donato Cecere |
| author_sort | Antonio Di Nardo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, gas turbine plants using hydrogen/methane blends provide a crucial solution for decarbonizing thermal power generation and promoting a sustainable energy transition. In this context, the development of fuel-flexible burners is fundamental. This work reports the development of a novel burner geometry for gas turbines that can operate with natural gas and hydrogen mixtures (HENG, hydrogen-enriched natural gas) over a wide range of hydrogen content while maintaining low NO<sub>x</sub> emissions. The methodology used in this work is multidisciplinary, incorporating (i) CFD numerical simulations to determine the burner’s geometry, (ii) mechanical design for prototype construction (not discussed in the article), and (iii) experimental tests to assess its hydrogen content capacity, stabilization, and pollutant emission characteristics. The geometry was initially optimized through several RANS simulations to enhance reactant mixing and minimize flashback risks. Additionally, some LES simulations were conducted under specific conditions to achieve more accurate predictions and investigate potential combustion dynamics issues. The proposed solution was then transferred into a prototype. Through experimental testing, the burner prototype was characterized in terms of four key performance indicators: (1) the ability to operate with HENG mixtures with more than 20% <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">H</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> content, showing a technological trend exceeding 50%; (2) the ability to operate with low <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>NO</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> (<25 ppm) and CO emissions within the 30–70% hydrogen volume range; (3) the ability to ignite HENG mixtures with <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">H</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> in the 30–70% hydrogen volume range; and (4) the ability to operate with a fluctuating hydrogen content, ±15% over time, while still complying with <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>NO</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> and CO emission limits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bd24b8ebad014ac2aacb1700331839cc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
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| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-bd24b8ebad014ac2aacb1700331839cc2025-08-20T02:17:00ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-04-01187176810.3390/en18071768Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas TurbinesAntonio Di Nardo0Eugenio Giacomazzi1Matteo Cimini2Guido Troiani3Silvera Scaccia4Giorgio Calchetti5Donato Cecere6Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyLaboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, ItalyTo reduce dependence on fossil fuels, gas turbine plants using hydrogen/methane blends provide a crucial solution for decarbonizing thermal power generation and promoting a sustainable energy transition. In this context, the development of fuel-flexible burners is fundamental. This work reports the development of a novel burner geometry for gas turbines that can operate with natural gas and hydrogen mixtures (HENG, hydrogen-enriched natural gas) over a wide range of hydrogen content while maintaining low NO<sub>x</sub> emissions. The methodology used in this work is multidisciplinary, incorporating (i) CFD numerical simulations to determine the burner’s geometry, (ii) mechanical design for prototype construction (not discussed in the article), and (iii) experimental tests to assess its hydrogen content capacity, stabilization, and pollutant emission characteristics. The geometry was initially optimized through several RANS simulations to enhance reactant mixing and minimize flashback risks. Additionally, some LES simulations were conducted under specific conditions to achieve more accurate predictions and investigate potential combustion dynamics issues. The proposed solution was then transferred into a prototype. Through experimental testing, the burner prototype was characterized in terms of four key performance indicators: (1) the ability to operate with HENG mixtures with more than 20% <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">H</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> content, showing a technological trend exceeding 50%; (2) the ability to operate with low <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>NO</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> (<25 ppm) and CO emissions within the 30–70% hydrogen volume range; (3) the ability to ignite HENG mixtures with <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="normal">H</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> in the 30–70% hydrogen volume range; and (4) the ability to operate with a fluctuating hydrogen content, ±15% over time, while still complying with <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi>NO</mi><mi mathvariant="normal">x</mi></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula> and CO emission limits.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1768hydrogenHENGRANSLEStestingcombustion |
| spellingShingle | Antonio Di Nardo Eugenio Giacomazzi Matteo Cimini Guido Troiani Silvera Scaccia Giorgio Calchetti Donato Cecere Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines Energies hydrogen HENG RANS LES testing combustion |
| title | Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines |
| title_full | Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines |
| title_short | Development of a Low-NO<sub>x</sub> Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines |
| title_sort | development of a low no sub x sub fuel flexible and scalable burner for gas turbines |
| topic | hydrogen HENG RANS LES testing combustion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/7/1768 |
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