Hydrogen blending up to 25% successfully completed; project set to be revolutionary for European gas transmission sector
Here’s an article posted in Powermag.
According to the article,
- A recent test in Germany has demonstrated the successful use of hydrogen in a gas turbine to drive a natural gas compressor, marking a significant milestone in the integration of hydrogen into the energy sector.
- The entire configuration underwent rigorous acceptance testing by an independent expert to ensure compliance with public energy supply regulations and was approved for operation without compromising the safety and availability of the compressor station.
Hydrogen blending in gas turbines can have both positive and negative effects on efficiency, depending on the specific conditions and technologies used.
Positive Effects:
- Increased Efficiency with Higher Hydrogen Blends: Higher hydrogen blends can lead to higher efficiency due to the higher energy density of hydrogen compared to natural gas. For example, a study found that a gas turbine operating on 100% hydrogen can achieve an efficiency of 40.3%, which is higher than the efficiency of a turbine running on natural gas alone.
- Flexibility and Scalability: Hydrogen blending allows for flexibility in fuel choice, as turbines can operate on a range of blends from 0 to 100% hydrogen. This flexibility can be beneficial for power generation and can be scaled up for larger power plants.
Negative Effects:
- Reduced Calorific Content: As hydrogen blending increases, the average calorific content of the blended gas falls. This means that a larger volume of blended gas must be consumed to meet the same energy needs, which can negatively impact efficiency.
- Increased NOx Emissions: Higher hydrogen blends can lead to increased NOx emissions, which are a major concern for environmental regulations. However, technologies like dry low emission (DLE) and dry low NOx (DLN) combustion systems are being developed to mitigate this issue.
- Retrofitting Challenges: Existing gas turbines may require modifications to handle higher hydrogen blends, including changes to combustion sections, fuel piping, and control systems. These modifications can be costly and may affect overall efficiency.
Overall, the efficiency of gas turbines when using hydrogen blends depends on the specific technology and operating conditions. While higher hydrogen blends can lead to increased efficiency, the reduced calorific content and potential for increased NOx emissions must be considered.
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