Investigation of Reverse Flow Slinger Combustor with Methanol

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of a recently developed reverse flow slinger combustor with methanol. The study has been undertaken with an aim of developing an effective way of burning methanol in gas turbine engines. Methanol is seen as a future alternative to fossil fuels for power generation because of its clean-burning, renewable, and sustainable nature. However, its combustion in gas turbine engines imposes several technical challenges due to its relatively different properties compared to conventional hydrocarbon fuels, such as low calorific value and low viscosity. The novel combustor employed in the current study potentially provides a viable solution for methanol combustion in stationary gas turbines. The combustor design facilitates internal preheating of combustion air from the exhaust products and enhances the flame stability and ignition characteristics, particularly at lean conditions. The combustor performance was investigated with methanol and stable combustion was achieved at very low fuel–air ratio of 0.022. Ultra-low levels of NOx and CO emissions were obtained with them being less than 5 ppm and 1500 ppm, respectively. Unburned hydrocarbons at the combustor exit were found to be less than 0.5% (vol).