AN ADVANCED TANDEM-PULSE COAL COMBUSTOR SYSTEM FOR GAS TURBINE APPLICATIONS

THE ADVANCED TANDEM-PULSE COMBUSTION SYSTEM BEING STUDIED FOR DIRECT COAL FIRING IN COMBUSTION GAS TURBINES PROVIDES INCREASED COMBUSTION EFFICIENCY AT SHORTER RESIDENCE TIMES, AS WELL AS A VERY COMPACT OVERALL COMBUSTOR ISLAND SUBSYSTEM FOR SIMULTANEOUS CONTROL OF NO(X),S0(X) PARTICULATE, AND ALKALI EMISSIONS UPSTREAD OF THE TURBINE. THE COMBUSTOR ISLAND TECHNOLOGY CONSISTS OF TANDEM-PULSE COMBUSTORS THAT CAN BE DESIGNED TO BURN CONVENTIONAL GRIND COAL AND/OR COAL-WATER MIXTURES (CWM). THIS ALLEVIATES THE NEED TO USE HIGHLY BENEFICIATED MICRONIZED COAL OR CWM, WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE FUELS. THE COMBUSTORS OPERATE IN A SLAGGING MODE TO REMOVE ASH FROM THE PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION. DRY SULFUR SORBENTS AND ALKALI VAPOR GETTERING MATERIALS ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE COMBUSTOR TO CAPTURE SULFUR AND ALKALI VAPORS FROM THE FLUE GAS, WITH THE SPENT SULFUR SORBENT AND ALKALI GETTERING MATERIAL REJECTED WITH THE SLAG. THE USE OF STANDARD GRIND COAL AND CWM FUELS IN THIS ASH AGGLOMERATING COMBUSTOR SYSTEM ALSO ENHANCES SOLID PARTICULATE MATTER REJECTION, THUS IMPROVING SYSTEM RELIABILITY, AVAILABILITY, AND MAINTAINABILITY. THE TECHNOLOGY WILL PROVIDE A COMPACT COMBUSTOR ISLAND HAVING EFFICIENT COMBUSTION WITH IN-SITU HOT GAS CLEANUP, AND PROVIDING REDUCTIONS IN CAPITAL COST AND OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS (INCLUDING FUEL COST).