Development of a Low-NO x Fuel-Flexible and Scalable Burner for Gas Turbines

Antonio Di Nardo, Eugenio Giacomazzi (), Matteo Cimini, Guido Troiani, Silvera Scaccia, Giorgio Calchetti and Donato Cecere
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Antonio Di Nardo: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy
Eugenio Giacomazzi: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy
Matteo Cimini: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy
Guido Troiani: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy
Silvera Scaccia: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy
Giorgio Calchetti: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy
Donato Cecere: Laboratory of Sustainable Combustion and Advanced Thermal and Thermodynamic Cycles, ENEA, 00124 Rome, Italy

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: To reduce dependence on fossil fuels, gas turbine plants using hydrogen/methane blends provide a crucial solution for decarbonizing thermal power generation and promoting a sustainable energy transition. In this context, the development of fuel-flexible burners is fundamental. This work reports the development of a novel burner geometry for gas turbines that can operate with natural gas and hydrogen mixtures (HENG, hydrogen-enriched natural gas) over a wide range of hydrogen content while maintaining low NO x emissions. The methodology used in this work is multidisciplinary, incorporating (i) CFD numerical simulations to determine the burner’s geometry, (ii) mechanical design for prototype construction (not discussed in the article), and (iii) experimental tests to assess its hydrogen content capacity, stabilization, and pollutant emission characteristics. The geometry was initially optimized through several RANS simulations to enhance reactant mixing and minimize flashback risks. Additionally, some LES simulations were conducted under specific conditions to achieve more accurate predictions and investigate potential combustion dynamics issues. The proposed solution was then transferred into a prototype. Through experimental testing, the burner prototype was characterized in terms of four key performance indicators: (1) the ability to operate with HENG mixtures with more than 20% H 2 content, showing a technological trend exceeding 50%; (2) the ability to operate with low NO x (<25 ppm) and CO emissions within the 30–70% hydrogen volume range; (3) the ability to ignite HENG mixtures with H 2 in the 30–70% hydrogen volume range; and (4) the ability to operate with a fluctuating hydrogen content, ±15% over time, while still complying with NO x and CO emission limits.

Keywords: hydrogen; HENG; RANS; LES; testing; combustion; burner (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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