Pressurized glycerin combustion in a gas turbine GPU

J. A. Scroggins, B. J. McCann, M. D. Bohon, J. C. Lisanti, P. Kundu, W. L. Roberts

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This work presents ongoing research in the application of crude glycerin derived from biodiesel production for power in a gas turbine engine. A gas turbine ground power unit was modified to burn glycerin based on knowledge gained during previous research done by the authors utilizing a small scale laboratory burner. This allowed for a combustion chamber to be designed and built with the capabilities of addressing the unique difficulties of burning glycerin: low energy density, high viscosity, and high auto-ignition temperature. The wide scale availability and low cost of crude glycerin makes it a prime candidate for power generation and process heating, particularly in biodiesel production. This work showcases the system's ability to effectively burn glycerin - both atmospherically and at elevated pressures - as well as describes future emissions measurements of NOx, CO, CO2, and light hydrocarbons and outlines necessary steps to increase viability. This work demonstrates that combustion of crude glycerin may provide an effective means for reclaiming the energy contained in waste glycerin using a modified gas turbine engine.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationFall Technical Meeting of the Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute 2011
PublisherCombustion Institute
Pages670-675
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)9781622761258
StatePublished - Jan 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

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