In the quest to decarbonize thermal power generation, a groundbreaking development from Italian researchers promises to revolutionize the way gas turbines operate. Led by Antonio Di Nardo from the Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles at ENEA in Rome, a team has engineered a novel burner geometry that can seamlessly handle hydrogen-enriched natural gas (HENG) mixtures, paving the way for a more sustainable energy future.
The innovation, detailed in a recent study published in Energies, addresses a critical challenge in the energy sector: reducing dependence on fossil fuels while maintaining operational efficiency and low emissions. Di Nardo and his team have developed a fuel-flexible burner that can operate with natural gas and hydrogen blends, even with high hydrogen content, without compromising on performance or environmental standards.
“The ability to operate with high hydrogen content is crucial for reducing CO2 emissions,” Di Nardo explains. “Our burner design not only meets current emission standards but also sets the stage for future advancements in hydrogen utilization.”
The burner’s design is the result of a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, mechanical engineering, and extensive experimental testing. The team used both Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) techniques to optimize the burner’s geometry, ensuring efficient reactant mixing and minimizing the risk of flashback—a phenomenon where the flame travels back into the fuel supply, potentially causing explosions.
One of the key performance indicators of the new burner is its ability to operate with HENG mixtures containing more than 20% hydrogen, with a technological trend exceeding 50%. This flexibility is crucial for gas turbines, which need to adapt to varying hydrogen concentrations in the fuel supply. The burner also demonstrates low NOx and CO emissions within the 30–70% hydrogen volume range, making it an attractive option for commercial applications.
“The commercial impact of this technology is significant,” says Di Nardo. “It allows gas turbine manufacturers to future-proof their products, ensuring they can meet increasingly stringent emission regulations while adapting to a hydrogen-rich energy landscape.”
The burner’s design also addresses the dynamic flexibility of gas turbines, which must quickly and safely adjust power output to respond to fluctuations in energy demand. The prototype has shown the ability to operate with a fluctuating hydrogen content, ±15% over time, while still complying with NOx and CO emission limits. This capability is essential for maintaining stable and reliable power generation in a decarbonized grid.
The research, published in Energies, opens new avenues for the energy sector. As gas turbine manufacturers strive to develop combustion strategies for high-hydrogen content blends, this innovative burner design offers a promising solution. It not only meets current emission standards but also sets the stage for future advancements in hydrogen utilization, making it a key player in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. As the energy sector continues to evolve, the demand for flexible and efficient combustion technologies will only grow. This burner design, with its ability to handle high hydrogen content and maintain low emissions, is poised to become a cornerstone of the future energy landscape. With continued research and development, it could shape the way gas turbines operate, contributing to a more sustainable and decarbonized energy sector.
