Combustion Performance of a Hydrogen-fueled Small Combustor for a Micro Gas Turbine

Abstract

A hydrogen-burning small test combustor without air holes in a liner wall was designed on the basis of a concept as for lean combustion of hydrogen in a primary combustion zone under conditions of very strong swirl. After some preliminary work on the test combustor, a hydrogen-burning complete combustor for use in a hydrogen-fueled micro gas turbine was developed. The combustion test of the complete combustor showed that it was capable of maintaining very stable and efficient combustion over the required range of engine speeds and operation conditions. The combustor had the high rate of volumetric heat release of 3.5×10³MW/(m³·MPa), and attained high combustion efficiencies of over 99.95%. Hydrogen combustion in the combustor could result in low NO_x emission levels in comparison with hydrocarbon combustors.