EP3431877B1 - Gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy - Google Patents

Gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3431877B1
EP3431877B1 EP18184118.0A EP18184118A EP3431877B1 EP 3431877 B1 EP3431877 B1 EP 3431877B1 EP 18184118 A EP18184118 A EP 18184118A EP 3431877 B1 EP3431877 B1 EP 3431877B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plant according
detecting sensor
flame
frequency
combustion chamber
Prior art date
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Active
Application number
EP18184118.0A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3431877A1 (en
Inventor
Andrea DI VITA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ansaldo Energia SpA
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Ansaldo Energia SpA
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Publication of EP3431877A1 publication Critical patent/EP3431877A1/en
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23R—GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
    • F23R3/00—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel
    • F23R3/02—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel characterised by the air-flow or gas-flow configuration
    • F23R3/16—Continuous combustion chambers using liquid or gaseous fuel characterised by the air-flow or gas-flow configuration with devices inside the flame tube or the combustion chamber to influence the air or gas flow
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
    • F23N5/242—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements using electronic means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23C—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR COMBUSTION USING FLUID FUEL OR SOLID FUEL SUSPENDED IN  A CARRIER GAS OR AIR 
    • F23C99/00—Subject-matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F23C99/001—Applying electric means or magnetism to combustion
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23N—REGULATING OR CONTROLLING COMBUSTION
    • F23N5/00—Systems for controlling combustion
    • F23N5/24—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements
    • F23N5/245—Preventing development of abnormal or undesired conditions, i.e. safety arrangements using electrical or electromechanical means
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F05D2260/00—Function
    • F05D2260/96—Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
    • F05D2260/964—Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise counteracting thermoacoustic noise
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05D—INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
    • F05D2270/00—Control
    • F05D2270/01—Purpose of the control system
    • F05D2270/08—Purpose of the control system to produce clean exhaust gases
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
    • F23R—GENERATING COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OF HIGH PRESSURE OR HIGH VELOCITY, e.g. GAS-TURBINE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS
    • F23R2900/00—Special features of, or arrangements for continuous combustion chambers; Combustion processes therefor
    • F23R2900/00013—Reducing thermo-acoustic vibrations by active means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy.
  • acoustic oscillations may be triggered spontaneously (here and hereinafter identified with the term 'humming' typically used in the sector of reference), which are destructive to the structural integrity of the combustion chamber.
  • the Lean Blow Out is extremely damaging for the plant as it can even lead to repeated and prolonged extinguishing and relighting of the flame in the combustion chamber with evident losses in terms of productivity and reliability of the plant itself.
  • the increase in the percentage content of fuel is usually achieved by adjusting the opening of the fuel supply valves.
  • these valves are subject to mechanical wear. Accordingly, the long-term reliability of the prior art is also compromised.
  • the present invention relates to a gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy comprising:
  • the irradiation of the inner chamber with radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations decreases any humming and LBO phenomena without increasing the emissions of polluting substances and in a reliable manner.
  • the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations generated by the radiation source interact with the flame at the output of the burner assembly causing an increase in the flame speed.
  • flame speed means the speed with which the flame propagates in a stationary fluid.
  • the flame speed in the combustion chamber of a gas turbine is relatively low.
  • the flame speed is increased not by an increase in the percentage content of fuel, as achieved with the prior art methods, but rather by the flame interacting with the electromagnetic waves generated by the radiation source.
  • the flame has a small number of free electrons.
  • Each free electron absorbs a respective fraction of the power of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the flame. This power is then released by the electrons when they collide.
  • the power of the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation is only absorbed in the hottest area of the gas present in the combustion chamber, i.e. precisely where the flame is. In fact, it is in this area that the number of free electrons responsible for the absorption of the radio-frequency power is maximum.
  • the power thus dissipated can induce flame heating or a change in the kinetics of the chemical reactions occurring in the flame. In both cases, the flame speed increases without an increase in the emissions of polluting substances.
  • This flame speed increase can promote the suppression of the humming and/or LBO phenomena.
  • the humming phenomenon in fact, mainly affects flames with low fuel content, i.e. with relatively low flame speed values. For example, humming increases as the ambient humidity increases, and hence the water vapour content of the mixture feeding the flame, with a consequent reduction in the flame speed. Increasing the flame speed is therefore equivalent to dealing with flames that are more stable in terms of humming.
  • the humming phenomenon arises when the oscillations of the combustion power and the pressure oscillations of the flame are in phase. Said phase depends on the shape of the flame, which in turn depends on the flame speed for a given flow field of the fluid.
  • the power of the acoustic oscillations in the combustion chamber is supplied by exothermic reactions that occur during combustion.
  • radio-frequency to a flame reduces the fuel percentage minimum value below which a flame is subject to LBO.
  • Experimental evidence has in fact shown that applying radio-frequency to a flame having a given percentage of fuel and subject to LBO can suppress the latter.
  • the plant comprises a control device configured to regulate the frequency and/or the amplitude of the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation source on the basis of the data detected by the at least one detecting sensor.
  • the frequency and/or amplitude of the electromagnetic radiations that irradiate the combustion chamber is adjusted so as to optimize the LBO and/or humming reduction.
  • reference number 1 indicates a gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy.
  • the plant 1 comprises a compressor 3, a combustor 4, a gas turbine 6 and a generator 7, which converts the mechanical power supplied by the turbine 6 into electrical power to be supplied to an electrical network 8, which is connected to the generator 7 by a switch 9.
  • the plant 1 also comprises a stabilizing device 10, which comprises a radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation source 11, a control device 12 and at least one detecting sensor 13.
  • a stabilizing device 10 which comprises a radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation source 11, a control device 12 and at least one detecting sensor 13.
  • the electromagnetic radiation source 11 is configured to irradiate the combustor 4 with radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations.
  • the electromagnetic radiation source 11 comprises a generator 15 configured to generate electromagnetic radiations, at least one antenna 16 configured to irradiate electromagnetic radiations, and at least one radio-frequency power cable 17, configured to supply the electromagnetic radiations generated by the generator 15 to the antenna 16.
  • the generator 15 is a free electron vacuum tube (generally called klystron) configured to generate radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations (RF).
  • klystron free electron vacuum tube
  • RF radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations
  • the generator 15 is configured to generate electromagnetic radiations with frequencies ranging between 1-10 GHz, preferably between 3 and 4 GHz, and in particular of 3.7 GHz.
  • the generator 15 is configured to generate pulse trains.
  • Each pulse train has a total time length tD.
  • the time length tD is shorter than a crossing time tA, which is understood as the time it takes the air-fuel mixture to cross the flame. This prevents the motion of the mixture crossing the flame from dragging outside of the flame the power dissipated within the flame following irradiation with radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations.
  • the crossing time tA is approximately one millisecond.
  • Each pulse train may comprise more than one pulse.
  • Each pulse has a given power P and a given time length t1.
  • the pulses follow one another at regular time intervals having a t2 time length.
  • N tD + t 2 / t 1 + t 2
  • the power P of each pulse is preferably the maximum power that can be generated by the generator 15, compatibly with the cooling requirements of the antenna 16.
  • the flame absorbs only a small fraction of the power radiated by the radiation source 11.
  • a maximum allowable value of dissipated power Pdiss is set, which is calculated on the basis of the cooling system available for the electromagnetic radiation source 11. The lower the value of the dissipated power Pdiss, the less the need for specific cooling systems, which are difficult and expensive to manufacture.
  • the dissipated power Pdiss is preferably controlled in order to ensure the smooth operation of the plant 1.
  • the plant comprises at least one detecting sensor 13 configured to detect flame instability (LBO) in the combustor 4, and preferably also at least one additional detecting sensor 14 configured to detect the presence of acoustic oscillations (humming) in the combustor 4.
  • LBO flame instability
  • humming acoustic oscillations
  • the detecting sensor 13 is configured to detect at least one parameter indicative of the presence of flame instability phenomena in the combustor 4.
  • the detecting sensor 13 is a sensor selected from the group of sensors comprising:
  • the detecting sensor 13 is a chemiluminescence sensor capable of detecting the concentration of OH - ions.
  • a non-illustrated variant provides that the plant comprises more than one detecting sensor, each of which detects a different parameter. This redundancy can make the detection of flame instability phenomena more reliable.
  • the detecting sensor 13 detects a time course of the parameter indicative of the presence of flame instability phenomena in the combustor 4.
  • the additional detecting sensor 14 is a pressure sensor, for example a piezoelectric sensor or a microphone.
  • the detecting sensor 13 and the optional additional detecting sensor 14 transmit the detected data to the control device 12.
  • the control device 12 is configured to selectively activate the generator 15 by means of a UATT activation signal if the detecting sensor 13 detects an activation condition indicative of the presence of flame instability phenomena (LBO) in the combustor 4.
  • LBO flame instability phenomena
  • the activation condition may occur when the indicative parameter detected by the detecting sensor 13 exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold or when the time course of the indicative parameter detected by the detecting sensor 13 shows a given pattern.
  • the activation condition occurs when the OH radical chemiluminescence signal drops below 30% of its mean value and for at least 10 milliseconds does not rise above 120% of its mean value (a condition identifying an extinguishing event) .
  • the activation condition occurs when a peak in the OH radical chemiluminescence signal and a sufficiently significant peak in the acoustic signal occur substantially at the same time (a situation identifying relighting) and/or when the OH radical luminescence signal is substantially close to zero and the acoustic signal is less than a given threshold value (a situation identifying extinguishing).
  • a peak in the OH radical chemiluminescence signal and a sufficiently significant peak in the acoustic signal occur substantially at the same time (a situation identifying relighting) and/or when the OH radical luminescence signal is substantially close to zero and the acoustic signal is less than a given threshold value (a situation identifying extinguishing).
  • control device 12 is configured to selectively activate the generator 15 by means of a UATT activation signal even if the additional detecting sensor 14 detects a further predefined activation condition indicative of the presence of thermoacoustic oscillations in the combustor 4 (humming).
  • a further activation condition can occur when the pressure detected by the additional detecting sensor 14 exceeds a predetermined threshold value, for example 20 mbar.
  • the generator 15 is activated when the activation condition and/or the further activation condition is detected.
  • control device 12 in order to identify the occurrence of the activation condition, can use different data processing algorithms, such as for example those based on 'wavelets', the 'Fast Fourier Transform', neural networks, spectral or statistical methods.
  • control device 12 can be configured to count the pairs of extinguishing and relighting events detected per time unit.
  • the control device 12 is further configured to regulate the frequency F and/or the amplitude A of the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation source 11 on the basis of the data detected by the detecting sensor 13.
  • the control device 12 is further also configured to calculate the mean power Pm of each pulse train on the basis of the data coming from the detecting sensor 13.
  • the frequency F and the mean power Pm are calculated by the control device 12 also on the basis of the data detected by the additional detecting sensor 14.
  • the control device 12 establishes the values t1, t2 and t3, required for optimal stabilization, on the basis of the mean power Pm and the frequency F.
  • the values of the time T, the mean power Pm and the time lengths t1, t2, t3 calculated by the control device 12 are then fed to the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation source 11.
  • the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation source 11 then generates the pulse trains according to the input Pm, t1, t2, t3 and T data.
  • the pulse train generated by the generator 15 is synchronized with the acoustic oscillations in the combustor 4 so as to maximize the absorption of the electromagnetic radiations when the flame temperature is maximum.
  • Figure 3 shows a part of the combustor 4.
  • the combustor 4 is provided with a combustion chamber 20 in which combustion occurs, an outer chamber 21 (also called plenum), in which compressed air flows from the compressor 3, and at least one burner assembly 22 facing the combustion chamber 20 and supplied with fuel and with the air flowing into the outer chamber 21.
  • the burner assembly 22 is provided with a premix burner and a pilot burner (not shown in the attached Figure 3 ).
  • the combustion chamber 20 is covered with a plurality of substantially rectangular tiles 24 arranged in adjacent columns.
  • the tiles 24 are made of a refractory material, which is transparent to radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations.
  • the antenna 16 is preferably installed behind one of the plurality of tiles 24.
  • the antenna 16 is coupled to the "cold" rear face of the tile of the plurality of tiles 24.
  • the antenna 16 has dimensions substantially the same as the dimensions of the tile 24 coupled thereto, and therefore is rectangular.
  • the tile 24 coupled to the antenna 16 and the tiles 24 adjacent thereto thermally protect the antenna 16, thus guaranteeing its durability over time.
  • a second embodiment provides that the antenna 16 is positioned close to the pilot burner of the burner assembly 22.
  • the generator 15 is activated by the control device 12 through the UATT signal.
  • the generator 15 then generates a pulse train at a frequency F and in accordance with the time lengths t1, t2, t3 and the mean power Pm calculated by the control device 12.
  • the antenna 16 irradiates the combustion chamber 20 with the electromagnetic radiations generated by the generator 15.
  • the electromagnetic radiations interact with the flame at the output of the burner assembly 22 causing an increase in the flame speed.
  • the plant made in accordance with the present invention achieves a significant reduction of the LBO and humming phenomena without necessarily requiring an increased percentage of fuel to be supplied to the burner assembly 22, and therefore without increasing the emissions of polluting substances.
  • the plant according to the present invention has no mechanical wear problems, as was the case in the solutions of the prior art.
  • radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations used in the present solution have intensities that do not induce dangerous electrical phenomena, such as electric arcs or corona effects within the combustor 4.
  • a further advantage of the present invention is that the antenna 16 power supply is pulsed.
  • the pulsed power supply allows the frequency of the radio-frequency electromagnetic radiations to be adjusted so as to maximize their absorption in the flame.
  • the pulsed power supply also enables very high peak values of the radio-frequency power, with a consequent greater stabilizing effect on the flame, while maintaining a sufficiently low mean power level such as not to require the use of systems for cooling the generator 15 and the antenna 16, which are difficult and expensive to manufacture.
  • the compactness of the stabilizing device 10 allows installation even on existing plants.
  • the linear dimensions of the antenna 16 and the generator 15 are in fact approximately 20 cm and 1 m, respectively, and the generator 15 can be installed outside the combustor 4.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Regulation And Control Of Combustion (AREA)
EP18184118.0A 2017-07-18 2018-07-18 Gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy Active EP3431877B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102017000081329A IT201700081329A1 (it) 2017-07-18 2017-07-18 Impianto a turbina a gas per la produzione di energia elettrica

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3431877A1 EP3431877A1 (en) 2019-01-23
EP3431877B1 true EP3431877B1 (en) 2021-04-28

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP18184118.0A Active EP3431877B1 (en) 2017-07-18 2018-07-18 Gas turbine plant for the production of electrical energy

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EP (1) EP3431877B1 (it)
CN (1) CN109268875B (it)
IT (1) IT201700081329A1 (it)

Family Cites Families (13)

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US3594788A (en) * 1967-12-27 1971-07-20 Combustion Eng Sensor testing device
US5211004A (en) * 1992-05-27 1993-05-18 General Electric Company Apparatus for reducing fuel/air concentration oscillations in gas turbine combustors
US6095793A (en) * 1998-09-18 2000-08-01 Woodward Governor Company Dynamic control system and method for catalytic combustion process and gas turbine engine utilizing same
US7121097B2 (en) * 2001-01-16 2006-10-17 Catalytica Energy Systems, Inc. Control strategy for flexible catalytic combustion system
JP3999644B2 (ja) * 2002-12-02 2007-10-31 三菱重工業株式会社 ガスタービン燃焼器、及びこれを備えたガスタービン
US6931856B2 (en) * 2003-09-12 2005-08-23 Mes International, Inc. Multi-spool turbogenerator system and control method
JP2006083730A (ja) * 2004-09-15 2006-03-30 Hitachi Ltd ガスタービンの着火検出方法
US8099941B2 (en) * 2008-12-31 2012-01-24 General Electric Company Methods and systems for controlling a combustor in turbine engines
US8720206B2 (en) * 2009-05-14 2014-05-13 General Electric Company Methods and systems for inducing combustion dynamics
DE102012024348A1 (de) * 2012-12-13 2014-06-18 Robert Bosch Gmbh Regeleinrichtung mit einem Schwingungssensor, Verfahren zu deren Betrieb und Heizeinrichtung mit einer solchen Regeleinrichtung
EP2767699B1 (en) * 2013-02-19 2018-04-18 Ansaldo Energia IP UK Limited Gas turbine with fuel composition control and method
EP2772689A1 (en) * 2013-02-27 2014-09-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Supplementary Laser Firing for Combustion Stability
EP3062019B1 (en) * 2015-02-27 2018-11-21 Ansaldo Energia Switzerland AG Method and device for flame stabilization in a burner system of a stationary combustion engine

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN109268875B (zh) 2021-08-17
CN109268875A (zh) 2019-01-25
EP3431877A1 (en) 2019-01-23
IT201700081329A1 (it) 2019-01-18

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