Gas turbine power generation systems using hydrogen-containing fuel produced by a wave reformer and methods of operating such systems
An improved power generation system and methods of its operation are provided, wherein the system combines: (i) a wave reformer, (ii) an optional second wave rotor, and (iii) a gas turbine in a flexible range of novel designs. Such a hybrid power generation system can thermally crack or decompose hydrocarbon fuel to produce a high-pressure fuel product, including mainly hydrogen and lead to a higher thermal efficiency than existing engines with low to no direct emission footprint.
1. A power generation system comprising:
a combustor having a first inlet to receive a high-pressure fluid, a second inlet receiving a high-pressure fuel product, and an output port discharging high-pressure burned gas, wherein the high-pressure fuel product is combusted;
a wave reformer having a first port receiving a pressurized fuel, a second port discharging a high-pressure fuel product to the second inlet of the combustor, a third port receiving at least a first portion of the high-pressure burned gas being discharged from the combustor, and a fourth port exhausting a lower pressure burned gas, said wave reformer being configured to cause thermal decomposition of the pressurized fuel; and
a power generating turbine having a first inlet receiving at least another portion of the high pressure burned gas discharged from the combustor and exhausting a low pressure exhaust gas.
2. The power generation system of claim 1 further comprising a first compressor connected to the combustor supplying the high pressure fluid.
3. The power generation system of claim 1 , wherein the wave reformer has either four, five, six, seven or eight ports.
4. The power generation system of claim 1 , wherein the wave reformer receives pressurized methane gas in a first port.
5. The power generation system of claim 1 , wherein hydrogen gas is produced by the wave reformer as a portion of the high-pressure fuel product.
6. The power generation system of claim 1 , wherein hydrogen gas is discharged as a portion of the high-pressure fuel product from the second port of the wave reformer and supplied to the combustor.
7. The power generation system of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized fuel comprises hydrocarbon fuel, and the wave reformer thermally decomposes the hydrocarbon fuel to produce a high-pressure fuel product including hydrogen.
8. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger to preheat said pressurized fuel prior to being input to the wave reformer.
9. The power generation system according to claim 8 , wherein said heat exchanger uses hot gases exhausted from the turbine to preheat said pressurized fuel.
10. The power generation system according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger to heat said high pressure fluid.
11. The power generation system according to claim 10 , wherein said heat exchanger uses said lower pressure burned gas exhausted from said wave reformer.
12. A power generation system comprising:
a first compressor, wherein air is pressurized;
a source of pressurized and preheated methane;
a combustor having a first inlet to receive high-pressure air operably connected to the first compressor, a second input to receive high-pressure hydrogen-containing gas, and an outlet for discharging high-pressure burned gas, wherein hydrogen gas is combusted;
a wave reformer having a first port receiving the preheated pressurized methane gas, a second port releasing high-pressure hydrogen-containing gas to the second input of the combustor, a third port receiving t least a first portion of high-pressure burned gas discharged from the combustor, and a fourth port exhausting lower pressure burned gas; and
a power generating turbine operatively connected to the outlet of the combustor and receiving at least a second portion of the discharged high-pressure hydrogen-containing gas.
13. The power generation system of claim 12 further comprising a pressure gain wave rotor.
14. The power generation system of claim 12 further comprising a pressure gain wave rotor positioned between the combustor and the turbine for supplying energy to the turbine.
15. A method of generating power comprising the steps of:
supplying high-pressure fluid to a combustor;
supplying a pressurized preheated fuel to a wave reformer through a first inlet port thereof, supplying a first portion of high-pressure burned gas discharged from the combustor to a second inlet port of the wave reformer and forming a shock wave in the wave reformer to drive thermal decomposition of the pressurized preheated fuel into a high-pressure fuel product including hydrogen;
injecting the high-pressure fuel product including hydrogen discharged from a first exit port of the wave reformer into the combustor to allow combustion thereof to occur therein; and
directing at least a second portion of high-pressure burned gas discharged from the combustor to a turbine to allow generation of improved power therefrom.
16. A method according to claim 15 , further comprising a step of adding a wave rotor upstream to the turbine and the additional steps of directing a high-pressure fluid into a first inlet port of the wave rotor, directing the said at least a second portion of high pressure burned gas discharged from the combustor into a second inlet port of the wave rotor, forming a shock wave in the wave rotor, exhausting a high-pressure burned gas from a first exhaust port of the wave rotor to the turbine, and creating a pressure gain between the high-pressure fluid and an inlet of said turbine.
17. A method according to claim 16 , including the additional step of discharging compressed air from a second exhaust port of the wave rotor and directing the compressed air to an inlet of the combustor.
18. A method according to claim 15 , wherein pressurized preheated fuel is a hydrocarbon.
19. A method according to claim 15 , wherein said fuel source is preheated by a heat exchanger that uses the hot gases exhausted from said turbine.