GE Vernova Advances Hydrogen Combustion Technology for Gas Turbines
Key Ideas
- GE Vernova successfully tested a new Dry Low NOx hydrogen combustion technology for gas turbines in South Carolina, achieving low emissions and high performance.
- The technology, based on micromixer technology, offers improved efficiency and longer maintenance intervals compared to current systems, benefiting industrial customers.
- The hydrogen combustion technology is part of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions, as hydrogen, when generated from clean sources, does not emit carbon dioxide when combusted.
- The new H2 DLN combustor is expected to bring about a 4 to 7% increase in combined cycle heat rate, providing environmental and efficiency benefits.
GE Vernova has completed a successful validation test campaign for its advanced Dry Low NOx (DLN) hydrogen combustion technology designed for B- and E-class gas turbines in Greenville, South Carolina. The campaign demonstrated the technology's capability to operate on natural gas and hydrogen blends, as well as 100% hydrogen, with emissions below 25 ppm nitrogen oxide. By 2026, GE Vernova plans to provide this new DLN system for both new and existing gas turbines. Despite challenges like combustion dynamics and noise associated with hydrogen operation, the prototype showed effective performance, especially with pure hydrogen. The technology is based on a micromixer-based fuel air pre-mixer, developed through collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy. Recent research efforts focused on enhancing micromixer and axial fuel staging for hydrogen applications. The new H2 DLN combustor technology is expected to offer multiple benefits, including higher efficiency and longer maintenance intervals, while also contributing to reducing CO2 emissions through the use of green hydrogen produced from clean resources like wind, solar, hydro, or nuclear power.