Simulating novel gas turbine conditions for materials assessment: cascade design and operation

Abstract

Integrated gasification combined cycles can incorporate pre-combustion carbon capture. High-H₂ syngas produces high H₂O levels after combustion, potentially accelerating gas turbine component damage. Determining materials systems’ suitability for this novel environment requires exposures in representative environments. Thus, an existing 0.7 MW burner rig was modified to generate the combustion environment and incorporate a cascade of 15 air-cooled turbine blades. Computational fluid dynamic calculations using blade dimensions and flow requirements supported the cascade design and determined blade placement within the gas flow. Trials of the modified unit have shown that a simulated combusted H₂-rich syngas composition was generated at gas temperatures ≤1440°C. A 1000 h exposure has been carried out with thermal barrier coated blades to demonstrate the operation of the unit.

This paper is part of a thematic issue on the 9th International Charles Parsons Turbine and Generator Conference. All papers have been revised and extended before publication in Materials Science and Technology.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Burner rig
• Cascade
• Gas turbine
• H₂-rich syngas
• Blades
• Coatings
• Degradation mechanisms
• Pilot-scale testing

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank B. Carpenter, P. West, E Hakon and A Potter for their work in constructing the cascade and operating the modified burner rig/cascade system. This work was supported by the Seventh Framework Programme through Grant number FP7-239349.

ORCID

J. Sumner http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5435-200X

N. J. Simms http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8865-9138