An Introduction to Combustion Turbines
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The U.S. Department of Energy has funded research on combustion turbines, significantly improving their efficiency from 25-35% to over 60% through innovations like heat-recovery steam generators. These advancements also reduce harmful nitrogen oxide emissions, addressing critical environmental concerns. Future efforts will focus on integrating coal-derived hydrogen fuels into combustion turbine technology for cleaner power generation.
An Introduction to Combustion Turbines
- 2. Over the past two decades, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has supported a wide range of research initiatives in the field of combustion turbines. Before recent technological innovations, natural gas-fired combustion turbines converted anywhere from 25 to 35 percent of natural gas heating capacity to electricity. Today, many large power plants use heat-recovery steam generators to recover waste products in the reaction and use them to power steam turbines.
- 3. Researchers have also developed techniques to operate combustion turbines at temperatures more than 300 degrees Fahrenheit higher than traditional turbines, which has achieved energy efficiencies of more than 60 percent. New technologies have also allowed for the reduction of harmful nitrogen oxide emissions, which represented one of the most serious problems facing combustion turbines.
- 4. Looking forward, the DOE’s Fossil Energy Program will support the adoption of combustion turbine technology that incorporates coal-derived hydrogen fuels and synthesis gas. Over time, combustion turbines may play an important part in a near-zero emission, power-generation landscape.