COMBUSTION OF GASEOUS FUELS IN GAS-TURBINES

This paper addresses the combustion behaviour and emission characteris tics, under current and projected future operating conditions, of gas turbines fired with natural gas and a range of alternative process gas es, including gasification product gas. State-of-the-art gas-turbine d esigns are currently able to burn natural gas and a range of alternati ve gaseous fuels efficiently, and meet legislation with respect to emi ssions of NOx, CO and unburned hydrocarbons. Future demands for increa sed turbine-inlet gas temperatures and higher operating pressures will dictate that the gas-turbine combustor will operate under conditions significantly removed from current practice, with generally unknown ef fects on flame stability, combustion efficiency and emission levels. T his paper reviews these areas in the light of information available in the literature. Future developments in gas-turbine technology are als o discussed, and outstanding research areas are identified.