GAS TURBINES FOR COMBUSTION OF NATURAL GAS IN MINE VENTILATION AIR

A LEAN BURNING GAS TURBINE DESIGN WILL BE DEVELOPED TO BURN METHANE-AIR MIXTURES WITH METHANE CONCENTRATIONS AS LOW AS 2%. THIS WILL ALLOW THE USE OF COAL MINE VENTILATION AIR ASTHE FUEL. MEMBERS OF THE PROJECT TEAM HAVE DEVELOPED SEVERAL CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES WHICH COULD HANDLE SUCH AN EXTREMELY DILUTE FUEL. THESE CONCEPTUAL DESIGNS WILL BE EVALUATED TO PRESENT A SYSTEM WHICH WOULD BE TESTED IN THE LABORATORY DURING PHASE II OF THE PROJECT. PROTOTYPE CONSTRUCTION AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD TAKE PLACE IN PHASE III. ONE OF THE PROMISING APPROACHES IS TO USE A ROTATING CERAMIC HEAT EXCHANGER TO RAISE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE PRE-MIXED METHANE-AIR MIXTURE INTRODUCED INTO THE COMBUSTOR. ELEVATED TEMPERATURES LOWER THE METHANE CONCENTRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR COMBUSTION, ALLOWING THE USE OF THE PROPOSED FUEL. METHANE EMISSIONS AT COAL MINES ARE A WASTE OF A NATURAL RESOURCE WHICH HAS DELETERIOUS EFFECTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. U.S. UNDERGROUND MINES EMIT OVER 300 MMCF OF METHANE EACH DAY. THIS IS ENOUGH TO GENERATE OVER 1000 MW OF ELECTRIC POWER. THIS IS ALSO ENOUGH TO GENERATE AN IMPACT ON GLOBAL WARMING. RESEARCH BEING CARRIED OUT AT EPA'S AEERL INDICATES THAT COAL MINE METHANE EMISSIONS IS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF ANTHROPOGENIC GREENHOUSE GASES. THE PROPOSED TECHNOLOGY WOULD PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT APPROACH TO MITIGATINGTHIS IMPACT.