Field Demonstration of a 1.5 MW Industrial Gas Turbine With a Low Emissions Catalytic Combustion System

Abstract

An electric utility grid connected test facility has been established at Silicon Valley Power (SVP) in Santa Clara, California to validate the reliability, availability, maintainability, and durability (RAMD) of a commercial-ready catalytic combustor system (XONON). Installed in the Silicon Valley Test Facility (SVTF) is a 1.5MW Kawasaki MIA-13A gas turbine fitted with a catalytic combustor. The gas turbine package is controlled by a Woodward MicroNet control system. The combustor utilizes a two stage lean premix preburner system to obtain the required catalyst inlet temperatures and low NOx over the operating load range. The fuel-air mixer incorporates counter rotating swirlers to mix the catalyst fuel and air to achieve the desired uniformity. The patented catalyst design is composed of specially coated metal foils. Overall engine performance was measured and the emissions were continuously monitored. As of Dec. 1999, emissions of NOx<2.5 ppmv and CO and UHC<6 ppmv have been maintained at 100 percent load for over 3700 hours of operation on the utility grid. The turbine continues to operated 24 hours a day, 7 days per week with commercial levels of unit availability.