Abstract
Thermodynamics of hydrogen combustion turbine cycles is presented. The GRAZ,
TOSHIBA, WESTINGHOUSE and MNRC cycles are analyzed. Research was performed in
co-operation with the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Tsukuba.
Introduction
Power generation systems based on hydrogen can be, in near future, an important alternative
to conventional power systems based on combustion of fossil fuels. Hence hydrogen as a
clean fuel is a subject of interest of many research institutions all over the world. National and
international projects for the hydrogen utilization have been progressed in several countries.
One of the most important program here is the Japanese: the International Clean Energy
Network Using Hydrogen Conversion WE-Net. The WE-Net Program predicts an
2
implementation of the Hydrogen-Fuelled Combustion Turbine Cycle (HFCTC) as a new
energy source for power sector. In this respect, a configuration and performance study of the
HFCTC was conducted. The research was performed in terms of the Polish research grant
Nr 8T10B00918 and in cooperation with the Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Tsukuba,
Japan (at the present time: the Institute of Energy Utilization, AIST). Further on it is presented
the results obtained in the range of hydrogen turbine cycle thermodynamics.
proposed by Toshiba Co., by convention called the TOSHIBA cycle [], [];
Modified New Rankine Cycle, as authors own concept, by convention called the
MNRC cycle [].
A common feature of the a.m. cycles is that only one working medium (steam) is used for
both the topping as well as bottoming cycle. A replacement of an external firing (as in the
Rankine steam cycle) by a direct firing (similar to gas turbines or piston engines) makes it
possible. Main assumption made here is stochiometric combustion of hydrogen and oxygen
mixture. This combustion takes place inside a stream of cooling steam, which cuts down
combustion temperature to 1700 oC. It is assumed also that hydrogen and oxygen at the
ambient temperature are available at a pressure level that allows providing them to combustor.
It means that hydrogen would be provided as cryogenic liquid, however, cryogenic energy
could be utilized for pure oxygen production in an air-separator unit.
GRAZ, TOSHIBA, WESTINGHOUSE and MNRC cycles were analyzed in comparable
conditions to evaluate their performance. The analysis was undertaken in the same, specific
conditions with the same assumptions and property tables. Research results on a.m. cycles,
which were published so far, do not provide an opportunity for such comparison because of
incomparable and/or not clear conditions and assumptions set taken for the research. Cycles
without cooling system were only taken into account in order to create an opportunity for an
explicit evaluation.
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Cycle performance in nominal conditions.
Analysis of the HFCTC in nominal conditions was conducted for assumed values of
parameters as follows:
Working medium parameters were determined using the ITC-PAR calculation routines [11]
based on the NIST/ASME steam property tables.
For cycle performance calculations appropriate computer program was elaborated. Pressure
splits between turbine parts were optimized according to maximum overall HHV thermal
efficiency. Efficiency of analyzed cycles was determined in relation to the Carnot cycle
(c), the Rankine cycle (R, high heating value of fuel (HHV) and low heating value of fuel
(LHV) as:
C = 1
Td
100%
Tg
(1)
Where Td temperature (K) of heat sink and Tg temperature (K) of heat resource;
LHV =
P
100%
m LHV
(2)
where P denotes the internal power output of the cycle and m hydrogen mass flow rate of
hydrogen supplied to the cycle
HHV =
R =
P
100%
m HHV
(3)
P
100%
P+Q
(4)
where Q denotes the heat amount taken out from the cycle. Efficiencies HHV and R should
be equal (at exact calculations).
Besides the turboset efficiency was determined:
el = LHV * g * m
(5)
GRAZ cycle
Toshiba cycle.
WESTINGHOUSE cycle.
10
MNRC cycle
11
Tab. 1
Cycle
GRAZ
TOSHIBA
WESTINGHOUSE
MNRC
pmax [bar]
350
380
250
250
tmax [oC]
1700
1700
1700/1600
1700
513
513
513
513
LHV [%]
70,8
71,2
74,0/72,8
79,0
HHV [%]
59,5
59,8
62,2/61,2
66,4
2202
3331
3489
4706
500
500
500
500
elLHV [%]
69,0
69,4
72,2/71,0
77,0
elHHV [%]
58,0
58,3
60,6/59,7
64,7
t [oC]
1700
1700
1700/1600
1700
p [bar]
50
73
250
250
p [bar]
350
343
277
277
t [oC]
650
876
517
463
[MW]
315
329
256
165
Parameter
The most
loaded element
temperature
The most
loaded element
pressure
The heat
exchanged/HRSG
heat load
As it is shown, efficiencies of GRAZ and TOSHIBA cycles are practically on a limit of the
WE-Net program requirements. The WESTINGHOUSE cycle fulfils these requirements with
some overlap and the MNRC cycle is far beyond. It is possible to increase the GRAZ cycles
efficiency by adding to the basic configuration a compressors inter-stage cooling and
recuperation (high-temperature regeneration). All cycles discussed achieve very high specific
power (related to a maximal mass-flow in the cycle). Those are values much higher
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(extremely of a range of magnitude) than ones achieved by contemporary heavy-duty gas
turbines (450500 kJ/kg), combined steam-gas cycles (600700 kJ/kg) or steam turbo-sets
(12001400 kJ/kg). It would be possible then to build extremely compact power units with
minimal usage of construction materials.
Sensitivity study
Examination results of influence of main cycle parameters change on efficiency of
TOSHIBA, WESTINGHOUSE and MNRC cycles are shown further on. The GRAZ cycle
was analyzed in their respect in Japan [][]. All cycles are relatively little sensitive on change
of main parameters. It depends especially the MNRC cycle. It allows for instance to reduce
combustion temperature from 1700 oC to 1300 oC maintaining the required 60% HHV overall
thermal efficiency.
The results of sensitivity study are presented from Fig.9. to Fig.11.
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14
15
16
Summary
All the HFCTC cycles with direct firing which were studied within the hereby research
(500MW class units) have shown very high thermal efficiency (minimum 60%HHV,
71%LHV) what is far above the performance of the known cycles. It has been fully confirmed
a possibility to achieve the efficiency at least 10 percentage points higher than the efficiency
of the most efficient contemporary power units (which is about 20% more). Similarly all the
HFCTC cycles have very high elementary power (22004700 kJ/kg), which is many times
higher (extremely for the range of magnitude higher) than performance of the contemporary
gas or steam turbines or combined cycles. Extremely compact power units with minimal
usage of construction materials would be possible to be built then. Considering, additionally,
a fact that the HFCTC cycles almost totally eliminate CO2 and NOx emission this solution can
be recognized as an interesting alternative for the future power technology development trend
comparing to conventional power technologies.
Reference
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