NETL's High-Pressure Combustion Facility is a unique resource within the National Laboratories system. It provides the fuel test capabilities needed to evaluate new high-pressure, high-temperature hydrogen turbine combustion concepts that will be required in order to meet national goals for the FutureGen initiative. FutureGen-type power systems will require gas turbine combustion systems capable of burning hydrogen or hydrogen-rich fuels with high efficiency and with low nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of 2 parts per million by volume (ppmv) or less. NETL's researchers are developing alternative methods, sensors, and control capabilities necessary to reach stable combustion under demanding conditions and thereby meet these emissions targets.

NETL researchers use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model and study fluid flow and combustion in the Dynamic Gas Turbine Combustion test rig. Swirl vane location and flow conditions can affect the flame shape and its orientation within a combustor, producing large changes in pressure that can severely diminish turbine efficiency and lead to premature wear and failure of the swirl vanes. Use of visualization models and study of test rig results can provide researchers with detailed insights into the complex combustion process, clearly showing the development and effects of pressure oscillations in the combustor.

To strengthen its analytical capabilities in high-pressure combustion, NETL has built a unique optical combustor called SimVal (for Simulation Validation), which is being used to better understand combustion and emissions issues related to variations in the properties of different fuels. By operating at high pressures while precisely controlling thermal, flow, and acoustic boundary conditions, SimVal provides a unique test capability that is yielding data to validate the newest simulation codes devised by NETL researchers to model advanced combustion systems.

NETL has the following facilities and diagnostic resources to support these efforts.

Dynamic Gas Turbine Test Rig

• Simulates gas turbine conditions with acoustic feedback
• 10 atm pressure; 0.75 kg/s combustion air; 600 K air preheat
• Natural gas and liquid fuel
• Hydrogen and propane fuel blends planned

SimVal Test Rig

• Optically accessible combustor and test section
• High flow rates (maximum 1.4 kg/s combustion air, 53.5 g/s natural gas, 5.4 g/s hydrogen)
• High pressures (maximum 22 atm combustor pressure)
• High temperatures (maximum 700 K air preheat)

Measurement and Diagnostic Capabilities

• Emissions measurement – NOx, CO, CO₂, O₂, total hydrocarbon (THC) analyzers; mass spectrometer
• High-speed dynamic pressure measurement
• SimVal only:
  • Flame structure and flow field characterization – planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF), particle image velocimetry (PIV), chemiluminescence
  • Standard and intensified high-speed video
  • Heat loss and process temperature measurement

SimVal Test Rig (cross-sections)

Dynamic Gas Turbine Combustion Test Rig (cross-section and photo)

For more information contact, Todd Sidwell, or Doug Straub