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The Gas Turbine's Future 281
the material strength and temperature resistance necessary to
facilitate increased turbine firing temperature. However, increasing
firing temperature will also increase emissions. To ensure continued
acceptance of the gas turbine, emissions must be eliminated or
significantly reduced. To reduce emissions, catalytic combustors are
being developed (see Figure 18-2). The catalytic combustors will
reduce NO x
formation within the combustion chamber. They will also
reduce combustion temperatures and extend combustor and turbine
part life.
While increased power (in excess of 200 + megawatts) will be
provided without increasing the size of the gas turbine unit, the balance
of plant equipment (such as; pre- and inter-coolers, regenerators,
recuperators, combined cycles, gasifiers, etc.) will increase the
overhaul size of the facility. Designers and engineers must address
the total plant not just the gas turbine. The size of the various process
components must be optimized to match each component’s cycle with
the gas turbine cycle, as a function of ambient conditions and load
Figure 18-2. Courtesy of Catalytica Combustion Systems. Artist rendition
of the catalytic combustor. The catalytic element enables combustion
well below the temperatures where NO x
can form.