Advanced Combustion System for High Efficiency (ACE) of the New SGT5/6- 9000HL Gas Turbine

Abstract

Under the international climate pact (Paris Agreement), participants agreed upon a framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and cap the rise in global temperatures at “well below” 2°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100, with 1.5°C being the ideal scenario. To meet this goal, the development of highly efficient power plants fired with natural gas or blends of natural gas and increased share of H2 is a central cornerstone to provide controllable electrical power generation. The new HL class addresses these needs by raising the combined cycle efficiency above 64% while offering high fuel flexibility with H2 blends up to 50% and significant turndown capability. The new HL class is equipped with the new ACE combustion system which was developed over the last decade, and which has been successfully tested in the SGT6-9000HL at Lincoln County (North Carolina, USA). The ACE combustion system is a can annular design which is equipped with a jet stabilized main burner piloted by a central swirl burner and an axial stage which is turned on at higher loads. The paper describes the combustion technologies applied to offer stability and low emissions over a large engine operation envelope and the associated development steps. Finally, test results from rig and engine testing are presented.