Through new modelling and large-scale experimental work the ETI project will look to identify the bounds of safe design and operation of high efficiency CCGT (combined cycle gas turbine) and CHP (combined heat and power) systems operating on a range of fuels with high and variable concentrations of hydrogen.
The goals of the project are to increase the range of fuels that can be safely used in power and heat generating plant by:
Indentifying the boundaries of safe design and operation of power generation systems using hydrogen based fuels; and
identifying improvements in the detailed design and instrumentation of hydrogen fuelled power systems in order to deliver more robust and inherently safer system designs.
The outcomes of this project will benefit the manufacturers and operators of all powerplants which may potentially utilise fuel containing high or variable levels of hydrogen such as gas feeds from landfill and anaerobic digestors.
The project will be led by the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL), an agency of the Health and Safety Executive, in collaboration with Imperial Consultants, the consulting arm of Imperial College.
The project will investigate the impact of a ‘flameout’ in a CCGT or reciprocating engine CHP system, which may result in an explosive mixture of fuel and air being pumped into a hot exhaust system before the flameout is detected. This in turn could lead to an explosion.
“The project will be a significant step in creating industry confidence in using high hydrogen fuels and taking the UK towards greater use of what have to be treated today as ‘waste fuels’ because of uncertainty in how to control their combustion. Looking ahead, greater use of fuels from sources such as waste reprocessing will be an important part of improving energy costs and energy security for all UK consumers.”
The Energy Technologies Institute is a UK based company formed from global industries and the UK Government. The ETI brings together projects and partnerships that create affordable, reliable, clean energy for heat, power, transport and associated infrastructure. For more information, please go to www.energytechnologies.co.uk
The ETI’s six private sector members are BP, Caterpillar, EDF Energy, E.ON, Rolls-Royce and Shell. The ETI’s public funds are received from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills through the Technology Strategy Board and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).