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Dual Phase Renewable Fuel Combustion in an Atmospheric Gas Turbine Burner

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Abstract

Expanding the fuel flexibility of continuous combustion systems to include multiphase fuel combustion offers additional support to combat the problem of energy security and, potentially, environmental pollution. In this study, apart from establishing stability limits and measuring post-combustion emissions, flames generated from simultaneous combustion of biodiesel and syngas were examined using C2* and CH* chemiluminescence imaging to capture changes in the reaction zone. The proportion of syngas in the fuel mix was varied from 0 to 30% content (by energy contribution) while maintaining a total power output of 15 kW. The overall equivalence ratio was held at 0.7 in cases other than for determining the flammability range. The results indicate a reduction of stability limits as gas proportion in fuel blend increases. Also, chemiluminescence imaging of the two targeted species suggest a general reduction in reaction rate as well as reaction zone area and length with increase in gas ratio in the dual phase tests. Furthermore, emissions performance in the context of NOx and CO was investigated as liquid-to-gas ratios were altered. Conclusively, the study demonstrates the feasibility, limitations and potential benefits of multiphase renewable fuel combustion in a swirl-stabilised burner.

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Acknowledgements

Malcolm Seaborne, Paul Malpas and the rest of Cardiff University’s Mechanical Engineering Laboratory and Workshop Technicians are gratefully acknowledged. Many thanks to Franck Lacan of the Additive Manufacturing unit of Cardiff University for printing the swirler used. Also, Ogbonnaya Agwu would like to express appreciation to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Nigeria for funding his Doctorate at Cardiff University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, Cardiff University, Wales, CF24 3AA, UK

    Ogbonnaya Agwu, Jon Runyon, Burak Goktepe, Anthony Giles & Agustin Valera-Medina

  2. China-UK Low Carbon College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Lin’gang, 201306, China

    Cheng Chong Tung

  3. Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton Malaysia, Iskandar Puteri, 79100, Malaysia

    Jo-Han Ng

Authors
  1. Ogbonnaya Agwu
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  2. Jon Runyon
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  3. Burak Goktepe
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  4. Cheng Chong Tung
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  5. Jo-Han Ng
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  6. Anthony Giles
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  7. Agustin Valera-Medina
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Correspondence to Ogbonnaya Agwu.

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Agwu, O., Runyon, J., Goktepe, B. et al. Dual Phase Renewable Fuel Combustion in an Atmospheric Gas Turbine Burner. J. Therm. Sci. 32, 1278–1291 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-023-1719-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-023-1719-9

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