Gas Turbine Combustion Technologies for Hydrogen Blends

The article reviews gas turbine combustion technologies focusing on their current ability to operate with hydrogen enriched natural gas up to 100% H2. The aim is to provide a picture of the most promising fuel-flexible and clean combustion technologies, the object of current research and development. The use of hydrogen in the gas turbine power generation sector is initially motivated, highlighting both its decarbonisation and electric grid stability objectives; moreover, the state-of-the-art of hydrogen-blend gas turbines and their 2024 and 2030 targets are reported in terms of some key performance indicators. Then, the changes in combustion characteristics due to the hydrogen enrichment of natural gas blends are briefly described, from their enhanced reactivity to their pollutant emissions. Finally, gas turbine combustion strategies, both already commercially available (mostly based on aerodynamic flame stabilisation, self-ignition, and staging) or still under development (like the micro-mixing and the exhaust gas recirculation concepts), are described.

Automated summary

The article reviews the current ability of gas turbine combustion technologies to operate with hydrogen enriched natural gas. It provides an overview of the most promising fuel-flexible and clean combustion technologies, as well as the current research and development in this field. The article highlights the motivations for using hydrogen in gas turbine power generation and discusses key performance indicators. It also describes the changes in combustion characteristics due to hydrogen enrichment and discusses commercially available and under-development combustion strategies.