Gas turbine for the combustion of reformed fuel gas

US5904040A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Erich Hums · Prüm, DE
• Nicolas Vortmeyer · Essen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 12, 1997
• Grant date: May 18, 1999
• Expiry date: Dec 12, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F23R3/40
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A gas turbine can achieve comparatively low emissions of nitrogen oxide. One disadvantage particularly of a catalytic combustion chamber is that, for example for natural gas, the ignition temperature necessary for combustion is in the region of about 400 .degree. C. The use of an auxiliary burner, which constitutes a disadvantageous source of nitrogen oxide, has therefore been heretofore unavoidable. In order to eliminate that disadvantage, a gas turbine for the combustion of a fuel gas, particularly with catalytic combustion of the fuel gas, includes a conduit system for drawing off part of the fuel gas, guiding it through a catalytic preforming stage to convert a hydrocarbon contained in the fuel gas into an alcohol and/or an aldehyde and subsequently feeding it to the fuel gas again in order to lower its ignition temperature. In this way, the comparatively easily igniting fuels alcohol and/or aldehyde are obtained from the fuel gas in the preforming stage. A fuel gas intermixed with these materials therefore ignites at a considerably lower ignition temperature than a fuel gas without preformed constituents.