METHOD OF OPTIMIZING THE LIMITATION OF DUST EMISSIONS FOR GAS TURBINES FUELED WITH HEAVY FUEL OIL.

Abstract

Method for optimizing the limitation of dust emissions from a gas turbine or combustion plant comprising a line for supplying liquid fuel oil, a line for generating fuel oil atomizing air, and a central controller, wherein: a first definition step, starting from a nominal temperature of the fuel oil and a nominal pressure ratio of the atomizing air of the fuel oil, and by controlling the injection of the soot inhibitor, of a nominal operating point corresponding to the maximum permissible level of emitted dust; a second step of controlling a first parameter, taken from the group of the fuel oil temperature and the pressure ratio of the fuel oil atomizing air, in order to reach another operating point; and a third step of controlling the soot inhibitor injection to achieve the maximum permissible level of emitted dust.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing the limitation of the dust emissions of a gas turbine or combustion plant comprising: a liquid fuel oil supply line connecting a fuel source to at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for controlling the temperature of the fuel oil, and means for storing and controlling the injection of a soot inhibitor, a line for generating the fuel oil atomizing air, connecting a main compressor to at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for controlling the temperature, flow rate and pressure of the fuel oil atomizing air, a central controller receiving information on the fuel oil temperature, fuel oil viscosity, air pressure of the fuel oil atomization, and combustion gas exhaust dust concentration, and controlling a device for controlling the temperature of the fuel oil, a valve for controlling the atomizing air flow of the fuel oil, and a device for controlling the injection of a soot inhibitor, the method comprising: a first step, from a nominal temperature of the fuel oil and a nominal pressure ratio of the atomizing air of the fuel oil, and by controlling the injection of a soot inhibitor, defining a nominal operating point corresponding to the maximum permissible level of emitted dust; a second step of controlling a first parameter, taken from the group of the fuel oil temperature and the ratio of the pressure of the fuel oil atomizing air, in order to reach another operating point; and a third step of controlling the injection of a soot inhibitor to reach the maximum permissible level of emitted dust.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the three steps take place under the control of the central controller.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein after the third step, the central controller triggers a new, second control step of the second parameter taken from the group of the fuel oil temperature and the atomizing air pressure ratio of the fuel oil.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the first parameter is controlled between a minimum value and a maximum value.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the control of the temperature of the fuel oil is controlled between 50 C. and 135 C.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pressure ratio of the fuel oil atomizing air is controlled between 1.1 and 1.8.

7. A gas turbine or combustion plant comprising: a liquid fuel oil supply line connecting a fuel source to at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for controlling the temperature of the fuel oil, and means for storing and controlling the injection of a soot inhibitor, a line for generating the fuel oil atomizing air, connecting a main compressor to at least one combustion chamber, comprising means for controlling the temperature, flow rate and pressure of the fuel oil atomizing air, a central controller receiving information from the measuring means on the fuel oil temperature, fuel oil viscosity, air pressure of the fuel oil atomizing air, and combustion gas exhaust dust concentration; and controlling a device for controlling the temperature of the fuel oil, a valve for controlling the atomizing air flow of the fuel oil, and a device for controlling the injection of a soot inhibitor, wherein the central controller limits the dust emissions by applying the method according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0048] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, given solely by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an installation comprising a gas turbine, a controller, a fuel supply and compressed air;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a graph illustrating, on the X-axis, the measurement of soot emissions and on the Y-axis the temperature of the fuel oil and/or the pressure ratio, with several constant flow rate curves for the emissions inhibitor.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart describing the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 describes an installation including the necessary equipment for implementing the method. The gas turbine assembly is composed of a main compressor (1) connected by a shaft (C) to an expansion turbine (2), and between the two, at least one combustion chamber (3), and at the outlet a chimney (4). Of course, the shaft (C) also connects the expansion turbine (2) to either an alternator (not shown) or to a steam recovery boiler (not shown).

[0053] The turbine assembly is supplied with liquid fuel oil via the supply line A that connects a tank (5) and combustion chambers (3).

[0054] The supply line A comprises a heat exchanger (6) connected to a temperature control device (7) for adapting the temperature of the fuel oil measured by the means (18) upstream of the combustion, a device permitting the continuous measurement of the viscosity (12), a tank (13) for a soot inhibitor, an injection device (8) for injecting said inhibitor, for example a mixer, and between the two a device (10) for controlling the injection of the soot inhibitor into the fuel oil, for example a pump.

[0055] In addition, a part of the air leaving the last stages of the compressor (1) is conveyed by the line B to be used for the atomization of the fuel oil. The line B comprises an exchanger (14) for reducing the temperature of the air coming from the compressor (1), a valve (15) for controlling the atomizing air flow, and an air compressor (16) having as its energy source a motor or a reduction shaft connected to the main shaft line (C). Preferably, the atomizing air line B permits the adjustment of the pressure ratio between 1.1 and 1.8. The air thus compressed is distributed to the combustion chambers (3) by the device (17).

[0056] At the exhaust in the chimney (4), there is a device for measuring the dust concentration (9).

[0057] The controller (11) receives the signals from the online viscosity measuring device (12) and the dust concentration measuring device (9). The controller (11) is adapted to control the fuel temperature (7), the inhibitor flow control device (10), and the air flow control valve (15) placed upstream of the atomizing air compressor (16).

[0058] FIG. 2 is an illustration of the general principle of the method for optimizing the operation of reducing dust emissions. The graph in FIG. 2 represents several dust emission curves at a given inhibitor flow rate (Qn) as a function of the temperature (T) of the fuel oil and/or the pressure ratio (Pr), whereby this figure illustrates three different inhibitor flow levels Qn. The inhibitor flow rate Qn can also express the ratio between the inhibitor flow rate and the fuel oil flow rate, in order to consider the variation of the fuel oil flow rate as a function of the load of the gas turbine. It is thus possible to represent the variation in the dust emissions level as a function of the inhibitor flow rate, the fuel oil temperature and/or the pressure ratio. The graph in FIG. 2 also shows a region delimited on the X-axis by the maximum dust emissions level and delimited on the Y-axis either by the temperature T of the fuel oil or by the pressure ratio PR of the atomizing air.

[0059] In addition, for a minimum temperature, it will be necessary to reach a maximum pressure ratio, because the more the temperature of the fuel oil decreases, the more the viscosity increases, and it will be necessary to increase the pressure ratio to ensure good atomization of the fuel oil. Conversely, for a maximum temperature. It would be possible to reduce the pressure ratio, because the viscosity of the fuel oil decreases with increasing temperature.

[0060] For a constant inhibitor flow rate (Qn), the graph shows the effect on emissions of a control change in the temperature and/or the pressure ratio. Indeed, for a given inhibitor flow rate, an increase in temperature makes it possible to reduce the emissions level. Conversely, for a constant inhibitor flow rate, a decrease in temperature causes an increase in the emissions level. This is a consequence of the viscosity change. Consequently, the combustion of the fuel oil tends to increase the emissions level when the viscosity of the fuel oil increases without changing the pressure ratio.

[0061] The temperature of the fuel oil in the supply line A can be controlled between a minimum value, for example 50 C., for which the viscosity is at the maximum, and a maximum operating temperature value of the components determined during the definition of the components in the line A, for example 135 C.

[0062] Subsequently, the method according to the invention makes it possible to find an operating point on the graph for a given inhibitor flow rate for which the fuel oil temperature and/or the pressure ratio make it possible to maintain a concentration of soot in the exhaust that is lower than the maximum limit.

[0063] For each coordinate on the graph, it is possible to calculate a cost associated with the soot reduction operation. For example, this can be the cost associated with the temperature change of the fuel oil in an exchanger, the total exchanged power expressed in kW or kCal/h, the power in kW of an electrical resistance or a steam flow rate, or the power in kW consumed by the atomizing air compressor that depends on the atomizing air mass flow set by the flow rate control valve (15).

[0064] In particular, when the purchase price of electricity in /kW is greater than a break-even point, it will then be preferable to increase the electricity production towards the electricity grid and to reduce the energy consumption necessary for heating the fuel oil and/or the pressure ratio. However, in order to reduce the dust emissions level, it is necessary to increase the inhibitor flow rate.

[0065] In addition, the consumption of the soot inhibitor generates a cost associated with its consumption and storage. In addition, in the event of a stock shortage, the cost of supply as well as the cost of the tax to be paid on dust emissions must be considered in the event that the maximum emission threshold is exceeded. In this case, the method allows the use of the inhibitor to be reduced (by reducing the flow rate) and an increase in the fuel oil temperature and/or the pressure ratio to ensure an acceptable dust emissions level.

[0066] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart detailing the method that is an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] In a first step, for a nominal temperature and a nominal operating pressure ratio, a nominal inhibitor flow rate is calculated that is a function of the fuel oil flow rate, in order to ensure an emissions level below the maximum limit (point A, FIG. 2). The controller (11) thus provides the nominal inhibitor flow rate by sending an instruction to the injection control device (10) of the inhibitor.

[0068] In a second step, it is necessary to choose between the optimization of the fuel oil temperature and the optimization of the atomizing air pressure ratio.

[0069] According to the method, a choice must be made such that the controller (11) can adjust the fuel temperature to its minimum or maximum permissible value.

[0070] If the use of the maximum temperature is chosen, then the controller (11) sends an instruction to the temperature control device (7) to reach the maximum temperature (point B, FIG. 2). Subsequently, the controller (11) sends an instruction to the injection control device (10) of the soot inhibitor to gradually reduce the inhibitor flow rate (point C, FIG. 2). For example, the inhibitor flow rate is reduced by 10% from its initial level. The dust concentrations are measured by the device (9): if the maximum permissible limit is exceeded, the controller (11) restores the previously used inhibitor flow rate by sending an instruction to the inhibitor injection control device (10). This operation has the advantage of reducing the consumption of soot inhibitor despite the energy consumption associated with the heating of the fuel oil.

[0071] In the case where it is chosen to use the minimum temperature, then the controller (11) sends an instruction to the temperature control device (7) to reach the minimum temperature (point F, FIG. 2). Subsequently, the controller (11) sends an instruction to the inhibitor injection control device (10) to increase its flow rate until the dust concentration level measured by the means (9) is less than or equal to the maximum permissible level (point E, FIG. 2). This operation has the advantage of reducing the energy consumption of the fuel oil heating device despite the consumption of the inhibitor.

[0072] Once this step has been performed, the controller (11) returns to the second step and optimizes the atomization pressure ratio by sending an instruction to the air flow control valve (15) to change the atomizing air pressure ratio.

[0073] If the choice is made to increase the atomization pressure ratio, then the controller (11) sends an instruction to the air flow control valve (15) on line B (FIG. 1) to increase the flow rate and pressure ratio in the compressor (16) (point B, FIG. 2). Subsequently, the controller sends an instruction to the inhibitor injection control device (10) to decrease its flow rate until the dust concentration level measured by the means (9) is less than or equal to the maximum permissible level (point C, FIG. 2).

[0074] If the choice is made to use the minimum pressure ratio (point F, FIG. 2), then the controller (11) sends an instruction to the inhibitor injection control device (10) to increase its flow rate until the dust concentration level measured by the means (9) is less than or equal to the maximum permissible level (point E, FIG. 2).

[0075] From the nominal operating point (point A, FIG. 2), to be able to reach the point E corresponding to the minimum fuel oil temperature, or the minimum pressure ratio, and the maximum dust emission limit, it is possible to start with an increase in the injection of the soot inhibitor (point D, FIG. 2) and then command the decrease in the fuel oil temperature or the pressure ratio to reach the point E.

[0076] It is expected that it is possible to perform a change in the fuel oil temperature and then the pressure ratio, or conversely a change in the pressure ratio and then a change in the temperature of the fuel oil.

[0077] The present invention thus makes it possible to optimize the operation for reducing the soot emissions of a gas turbine or combustion plant supplied with fuel oil from a technical and economic point of view, either by reducing the energy provided to maintain the temperature of the fuel oil and/or a pressure ratio of the atomizing air, or by reducing the injection rate of the soot inhibitor.

[0078] In summary, the minimum fuel oil temperature and/or the maximum pressure ratio will preferably be chosen when the price of the electricity produced is greater than a break-even point, for example during the day and/or when the volume of the inhibitor in stock is greater than a predefined level.

[0079] The maximum fuel oil temperature and/or the minimum pressure ratio will preferably be chosen when the price of the electricity produced is greater than a break-even point, for example during the night and/or when the volume of the inhibitor in stock is lower than a predefined level.