Hydrogen Gas Turbine Retrofit Combustor

The objective of Thomassen’s development is to validate full engine operations with a low emission gas turbine combustor retrofit for fuel flexible operation (from 100% Natural Gas to 100% Hydrogen and any mixture thereof). The basis of the new development is the proven FlameSheet^TM (<50% Hydrogen).

Press release

June 2020:

The redesigned FlameSheet™ technology achieved atmospheric testing at 100% load with 100% hydrogen. Test result analysis is ongoing for initiating next phases of high pressure testing and engine demonstration with the consortium.

• Emissions requirements
  • Carbon reduction at least aligned with government objectives for CO₂
  • Sub 9ppm NOx and CO across normal load range
  • No Diluent need to control NOx emissions
  • No Selective Catalytic Reduction upgrade required to control NOx emissions

• Flexibility requirements
  • 100% H2 to 100% natural gas operation on the fly
  • Demonstrate operational flexibility for, start/stop and turndown range
  • Ensure maximum possible engine efficiency

• Retrofit technology requirements
  • Technology applicable to all frame machines MHI, GE, Siemens, Ansaldo, as well as smaller OPRA gas turbines
  • Drop in combustor with no changes to engine casing
  • Include controls modification, fuel skid upgrade
  • Able to operate 32,000 hours or 1,200 starts between inspection intervals
  • A cost level of the retrofit solution in line with the business case with a payback in 2-3 years

• Gas turbines in a load range from 1 to 300 MW.
• For smaller engines new installations are also applicable.
• Simple retrofits into the existing installed base of several thousand gas turbine platforms:
  • General Electric: Frame 5, 6B, 6F, 7E, 7F, 9E, 9F
  • Mitsubishi / Siemens: 501B/D, 501F, 501G, 701F, 701G
  • OPRA Turbines: OP16 (both retrofits and new installations)

Flexibility is key to supporting future energy generation. The growth in renewable solar and wind energy has emphasized the need for flexibility. Flexibility to reliably balance the load on the energy grid with the ability to rapidly adjust output while using cost effective fuels which also minimize carbon output.

Several thousand gas turbine machines represent the billions of Euros invested in gas turbine energy generation over the past decades. This investment is in danger of becoming obsolete unless it can adapt to the needs of the new energy market.

The control of stable combustion is one of the main challenges for the application of hydrogen in high efficiency and low NOx gas turbines. As soon as these hydrogen burners become available as a retrofit for existing gas turbine installations, it will become possible to modify existing gas turbine installations for an energy system with hydrogen as the energy carrier.

A retrofit using the FlameSheet^TM combustion system can be applied to the existing gas turbine fleet, to ensure flexibility with a low or zero carbon footprint at low cost. The modular nature of this technology means it can be applied to all industrial gas turbines representing a tremendous market opportunity. Customer payback is typically calculated to be within 2-3 years of FlameSheet^TM installation. In this way the customer is able to realize a complete return in the technology investment in a brief period, followed by growing profits in servicing the demands of the future energy grid.

Advanced development of technology solutions for the renewable market place will provide a significant industrial growth for the Netherlands. The technology will be further developed, supported and delivered from within the Netherlands. Dutch power companies will be the first to take advantage of this technology for using hydrogen retrofit capability and meeting future carbon emissions goals. These efforts provide the Netherlands with a competitive edge in the complex energy market place, while growing sustainable employment for the future.

• Grid stability with zero carbon emissions at minimum investment and operational costs. This stability is required to enable even more wind and solar on the grid.
• Excess renewable energy can be harvested, stored and released in gas turbines which have the ability to:
  • Follow the transition to renewable world at a pace which is flexible and dependent on local & regional market drivers
  • Run on wide range of fuels, including green fuels such as hydrogen.

• The non-energy benefits are to be found in the emissions reduction introducing Hydrogen into the combustion process.
• Compliance with local regulations and future climate goals is established.
• Executing the project from the Netherlands is also a potential boost for the Dutch industry and in general for the Dutch Hydrogen developments.

Thomassen is a leader in the field of high hydrogen application in gas turbines. The new knowledge and innovations from this project will improve the international competitive position of all partners. As manufacturer of gas turbine retrofits, Thomassen will have a significant competitive edge in the field of low NOx hydrogen burners for gas turbine applications. The knowledge from this project will enable the operators to make significant progress in the realization of low NOx, carbon free production of power and heat.