TESTING OF A SMALL COMBUSTION TURBINE BURNING REFORMED METHANOL
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 exchanges 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.
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Corporate Authors:
Solar Energy Research Institute
1617 Cole Boulevard
Golden, CO United States 80401 -
Authors:
- Karpuk, M E
- Publication Date: 1984-2
Media Info
- Pagination: 8 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Carbon dioxide; Catalytic converters; Exhaust gases; Heat exchangers; Hydrogen; Methanol; Pressure; Steam; Temperature; Turbines
- Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00389152
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Energy Research Abstracts
- Report/Paper Numbers: SERI/TP-232-2240, CONF-840543-1
- Contract Numbers: AC02-83CH10093
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Oct 30 1984 12:00AM