Discover FLEX4H2: sustainable energy for 500 homes, using gas or 100% hydrogen
The “FLEX4H2” project was a success. The GT36, Ansaldo Energy's first H-class gas turbine, can operate by burning only hydrogen. An announced success whose merit is due to the new design of the combustion chamber and the commitment of the eight partners who launched the initiative in January 2023.
Flexibility for Hydrogen – the full name of the project – was created to support ambitious climate goals of Europe through the development of a combustion system that is flexible in terms of fuel and operation. Specifically, the consortium, led by Ansaldo itself, took four years to design, develop and validate a safe, efficient system capable of operating with any concentration of hydrogen in the mixture. Up to 100% H2.
An objective pursued under the most demanding combustion conditions, i.e. at the class H operating temperatures required for maximum cycle efficiency. All this while respecting strict emission limits without the need to use diluents.
Ansaldo gas turbine switches to pure hydrogen
The new design is based on Ansaldo Energy's constant pressure sequential combustion (CPSC) technology, which employs two systems: one with aerodynamic flame stabilization and the other stabilized by autoignition. All work has been supported and will continue to be supported in multiphysics simulation.
”The decarbonization of gas turbines is a key part of the energy landscape transition. A single engine, equipped with the new FLEX4H2 combustion system, has the potential to eliminate up to 2.000.000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, while providing enough clean energy to power up to 500.000 homes.”
Federico Bonzani, Director of Product and Technology at Ansaldo Energy
Although only a year has passed, the partners have already made great progress. Prototype testing of the new combustion chamber at a test facility in Germany proved the validity of initial intuition, allowing Ansaldo's gas turbine to work with pure hydrogen. Tests revealed the combustion chamber's ability to seamlessly switch from natural gas to H2, with extreme operational flexibility.
“Innovative sequential combustion technology allows the GT36 to utilize a wide range of hydrogen and natural gas blends, ensuring its adaptability to the changing needs of current and future power generation markets.”
FLEX4H2 – Decarbonized Energy
Flexibility for Hydrogen (FLEX4H2) is a project co-funded by the Association for Clean Hydrogen, the EU and Switzerland. Its objective is to develop a flexible combustion system capable of operating with any concentration of hydrogen in natural gas, up to 100% H2.
The new combustion chamber design will be fully adaptable to existing gas turbines, providing important opportunities to renew existing assets.
Constant Pressure Sequential Combustion (CPSC) Technology
To maximize cycle efficiency while keeping emissions at very low levels, modern gas turbines must achieve a balance between ultra-high combustion temperatures, robust flame stabilization and the greatest flexibility in both engine operation and engine type. of fuel. Sequential combustion has demonstrated its advantages in achieving such ambitious goals.
The use of two combustion systems, one that uses aerodynamic flame stabilization and the other stabilized by auto-ignition, provides exceptional performance in terms of NOx and CO emissions, reduction capacity and greater flexibility in optimizing the combustion chamber for different types of fuel. It has been demonstrated that the intrinsic flexibility of sequential combustion allows clean and efficient operation on a wide variety of fuels with very high hydrogen contents.
Source: flex4h2.eu
