Fuel Diversification
About Fuel Diversification
Some fuels that are considered standard types that are easy to obtain including city gas, natural gas, kerosene, light diesel oil, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are commonly employed as fuels for power systems, and most standard specifications for power systems are written under the premise that the fuel used is selected from one of the above. There are also customers, however, who find it easier to obtain other fuels not on the above list or who use flammable materials intended only to be burned and used for heat instead of as fuel. The use of these types of fuels as alternative fuels or supplementary fuels for Combined Heat and Power (Cogeneration) works effectively in helping energy to be conserved. IHI provides support for energy systems that conserve energy through the diversification of fuels that can be used in power systems.
Examples for Fuel Diversification
Ex.1 : Hydrogen-rich gas-fired gas turbine
The main technical issues to utilize hydrogen-rich gas as gas turbine fuel is an optimal design for the gas turbine combustor and fuel supply system, and safety management like explosion-proof, etc. IHI has sevral experiences such as the gas turbine power plant used city gas contained around 10% hydrogen as a fuel (IM270), and gas turbine power plant used natural gas-based gas contained around 50% hydrogen as a fuel (IM5000).
- Power output
: 35.0 MW - Steam Flow form HRSG
: 51.0 t/h - Power generation efficiency
: 37.2% - Total efficiency
: 86.2%
Ex. 2 : Naphtha / Natural gas associated oil-fired gas turbine
There are the technical issues related to fuel supply system and start-up methods etc., in case naphtha or natural gas associated oil is used as liquid fuel becase liquid fuels such as naphtha and natural gas associated oil are highly volatile fuels.
IHI has installation experiences of LM6000(PC) model combined-cycle power generation plants used naphtha as gas turbine fuel, and the power plant has around 60,000 hours operation record.
Ex. 3: Aromatic hydrocarbons contained fuel-fired gas turbine
The fuels contained high quantities of aromatic hydrocarbons are maily used for heat utilization such as conventional boiler(steam generator) and similar devices, because these fuels tend to produce large amounts of soot easily.
IHI developed advanced combustion technology for IM270 Model in order to use inhibit the amount of soot produced.
IHI is developing the fuel utilization technology in order to utilize other types of fuels such as low-calorie gas fuels and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as supplementary fuels. Consult IHI for further assistance if you are planning to utilize unutilized fuels and determining the right fuel to use for the special application.