Testing of a small combustion turbine burning reformed methanol

Conference · Wed Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:7140902

Karpuk, M E; Schell, D J

As part of ongoing research into high-efficiency alcohol fuels utilization at the Solar Energy Research Institute, as gas combustion turbine was modified for use with reformed methanol and tested. The reforming process for this application uses waste engine heat to convert methanol and steam in the presence of a catalyst into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. We modified the standard combustor of a Garrett Model GTCP85-397 combustion turbine to burn the hydrogen and carbon dioxide mixture. Heat exchangers to boil and reform a methanol and water mixture were sized, purchased, and connected to the turbine exhaust. Instrumentation was added to monitor turbine temperatures, pressures, and exhaust emissions. Turbine performance and emissions were measured at various loads with a distillate fuel and compared with performance on reformed methanol. Reformed alcohol yields a significant improvement in efficiency because waste heat is reclaimed as chemical energy in the fuel. The larger mass flowrate of fuel to the combustor increases power output, and emissions are substantially reduced. 5 references, 6 figures, 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• OSTI ID: 7140902
• Report Number(s): SERI/TP-232-2240; CONF-840543-1; ON: DE84000100
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOL FUELS UTILIZATION
ALCOHOLS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
FUELS
GAS COMBUSTION TURBINE
GAS TURBINES
HYDROGEN
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MACHINERY
METHANOL
METHANOL FUELS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
REFORMED METHANOL
REFORMER PROCESSES
RETROFITTING
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TESTING
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
WASTE HEAT UTILIZATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION