

(https://www.naes.com/)

IN THE NEWS
Home (https://www.naes.com/)  Communications (https://www.naes.com/communications/) 
In the News (https://www.naes.com/communications/news/)  Combustion Tuning for State-of-
the-Art Combustion Turbines

8.17.2018 (HTTPS://WWW.NAES.COM/NEWS/TUNING-FOR-COMBUSTION-
TURBINES/)

COMBUSTION TUNING FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART

COMBUSTION TURBINES
by Fred Buckingham, P.E. – Principal Consultant, Engineering Services, NAES Corporation

Modern combustion turbine (CT) generators are required to meet several competing operational
objectives: stringent emissions standards, high ef ciency requirements, increasing operational
exibility and high reliability. Combustion systems have evolved from simple diffusion ame
combustors – which use steam or water injection to reduce emissions – to multi-stage, dry low NOx
(DLN) combustors. Figure 1 charts this evolution1. (Note that steam injection is omitted for clarity.)

Figure 1 – Evolution of Combustor Technology

 
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate current state-of-the-art DLN combustor technology produced by Siemens
and GE2,3,4.  Sequencing of the various stages for the Siemens ultra-low NOx (ULN) and GE DLN
2.6+ combustors are shown in Figures 4 and 5.

(https://www.naes.com/wp- (https://www.naes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust
ion-tuning_ g-2a_300dpi.jpg) ion-tuning_ g-2b_300dpi.jpg)

Figure 2. – Siemens Ultra-Low NOx (ULN) Combustor

(https://www.naes.com/wp- (https://www.naes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust
ion-tuning_ g-3a_150dpi.jpg) ion-tuning_ g-3b_150dpi.jpg)
Figure 3. – GE DLN 2.6+ Combustor

Figure 4. Siemens ULN Combustor Stage Sequencing

Figure 5. – GE DLN 2.6+ Combustor Stage Sequencing

Combustion phenomena such as ashback, blowoff and combustion instability can interrupt
combustion turbine operation and damage turbine components. Flashback occurs when the local
ame speed is faster than the local velocity of the fuel-air mixture, causing the ame front to
propagate upstream in the combustion process. Blowoff refers to the extinction of a combustion
process. Combustion instability, which is observed as vibration, occurs when pressure uctuations
interact with uctuations in heat release in a combustion system. Figures 6 and 7 show damage
caused by ashback5 and combustion instability6 in DLN combustors.
(https://www.naes.com/wp- (https://www.naes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust
ion-tuning_ g-6a_300dpi.jpg) ion-tuning_ g-6b_300dpi.jpg)

Figure 6. – Examples of Flashback Damage

(https://www.naes.com/wp- (https://www.naes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust content/uploads/2018/08/buckingham_combust
ion-tuning_ g-7a_300dpi.jpg) ion-tuning_ g-7b_300dpi.jpg)

Figure 7. – Examples of Combustion Instability Damage

DLN use ‘lean pre-mix’ combustion to operate within safe limits and, at the same time, produce
extremely low NOx emissions. DLN combustors control a complex interaction of multiple
combustor stages, changing ambient conditions, stability limits, emissions and dynamics.
Sequencing of various combustor stages as a CT goes from startup to full load keeps velocities and
combustion temperatures within tight ranges. Combustion tuning adjusts the sequencing of
combustor stages, fuel ow and air ow (within limits) to safely optimize performance ( gure 8).
Figure 8. – Optimized DLN Combustor Operation

Combustion tuning normally occurs during a CT’s initial commissioning or following major
maintenance activities or component upgrade. Usually performed by the OEM or a quali ed and
experienced third-party service provider, it addresses the full range of CT process parameters:

Fuel pressure and ow

Air mass ow
Compressor inlet guide vane position
Compressor bypass valve position
Compressor outlet pressure
Turbine exhaust pressure
Turbine exhaust temperature and temperature spread
Turbine exhaust outlet O2, CO and NOx
Combustion vibration

CT control system functions are characterized to keep combustion within an acceptable operating
window.

CT OEMs and third-party combustion system manufacturers have developed online combustion
dynamics monitoring systems (CDMS), which can be integrated into turbine control systems to
continuously monitor operating process variables. CDMS can now adjust combustion tuning to
compensate for changes in ambient conditions, operating variables and component degradation.
Examples of CDMS include:

ECOMAX™ (Ethos Energy)

AutoTune (PSM)
OpFlex™ (GE)
SPPA-D3000 (Siemens)

Combustion tuning is critical for successful operation of modern combustion turbine generators
equipped with state-of-the-art DLN combustion systems. Tuning performed by quali ed
combustion systems engineers and technicians can be augmented by integrating CDMS into
combustion turbine controls.

References

1. Boyce, Merherwan P., Gas Turbine Engineering Handbook, 4th Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, Waltham, MA, 2012
2. Johnson, C., Pepperman, B., Koenig, M., Abou-Jaoude, K., Gulati, A., Moradian, J., “Ultra Low NOx Combustion Technology”,
Power-Gen International 2008, Siemens Power Generation, Inc., Orlando, FL, 2008

3. Davis, L. B., Glack, S. H., “Dry Low NOx Combustion Systems for GE Heavy-Duty Gas Turbines”, GER-3568G, GE Power
Systems, Schenectady, NY, 2000
 4. Goldmeer, J., “60 Million Hours of Learning: Increasing Gas Turbine Operability and Flexibility Through DLN Experience,”
Power-Gen Asia 2014, General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY, 2014

5. Meher-Homj, C.B., Zachry, J., Bromley, A.F., “Gas Turbine Fuels-System Design, Combustion and Operability,” Proceedings of
the Thirty-Ninth Turbomachinery Symposium, October 4-7, 2010, Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M University,

College Station, TX, 2010

6. Karwowsji, P., “Monitoring – and Mitigating – Combustion Dynamics,” Combined Cycle Journal, August 2006
7. Automated Combustion Tuning on the Cusp of Mainstream”, Combined Cycle Journal Online, May 2011

(https://www.naes.com/)

RELATED LINKS

Ferndale Cogeneration Facility (https://www.naes.com/locations/ferndale-cogeneration-facility/)

High Desert Power Project (https://www.naes.com/locations/high-desert-power-project/)

Altura Cogeneration Facility (https://www.naes.com/locations/altura-cogeneration-facility/)

La Paloma Power Facility (https://www.naes.com/locations/la-paloma-power-facility/)

Elwood Energy (https://www.naes.com/locations/elwood-energy/)

PRC-027-1: The Standard of “Options” (https://www.naes.com/news/prc-027-1-the-standard-of-
options/)

NAES CORPORATION

1180 NW Maple St, Suite 200

Issaquah, WA 98027 USA
425.961.4700 (tel:4259614700)


(http://twitter.com/naescorp)

(http://www.linkedin.com/company/28113)

STAY UPDATED
 First Name

Email Address *

SUBMIT 

© Copyright 2019 NAES. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy (https://www.naes.com/privacy-policy/)

| Terms of Use (https://www.naes.com/terms-of-use/)

Website design by Jordan Crown (http://www.jordancrown.com)