This paper reports a performance analysis of micro-gas turbines (MGT) power plants integrated with a methanol reforming process. Chemically Recuperated Micro-gas Turbines (CRMGT) are a very interesting option to improve the exhaust waste heat (and then the efficiency) of MGT plants. The study carried out in this paper is based on the use of methanol as primary fuel due to its low reforming temperature (about 200-300 °C), which well fits with the recuperator outlet temperature. The performance analysis has been carried out with reference to the current MGT technology to avoid the need of advanced and expensive materials (superalloys or ceramics). The study aims to find the optimum operating conditions of the methanol reforming process (in particular, reforming temperature and steam-to-carbon molar ratio). The results of the study show that, at the optimum reforming conditions (reforming temperature of about 210-230 °C and steam-to-carbon ratios around 1) the efficiency of the CRMGT plant is about 4 percentage points higher than that of the corresponding MGT plant, with similar power outputs. However, due to the higher carbon content (referred to LHV) of methanol the specific CO2 emissions of CRMGT power plants are about 6-7% higher than that of the corresponding MGT power plant fuelled by natural gas.
Performance evaluation of Micro-Gas turbines integrated with methanol reforming processes
CAU, GIORGIO;COCCO, DANIELE;TOLA, VITTORIO
2007-01-01
Abstract
This paper reports a performance analysis of micro-gas turbines (MGT) power plants integrated with a methanol reforming process. Chemically Recuperated Micro-gas Turbines (CRMGT) are a very interesting option to improve the exhaust waste heat (and then the efficiency) of MGT plants. The study carried out in this paper is based on the use of methanol as primary fuel due to its low reforming temperature (about 200-300 °C), which well fits with the recuperator outlet temperature. The performance analysis has been carried out with reference to the current MGT technology to avoid the need of advanced and expensive materials (superalloys or ceramics). The study aims to find the optimum operating conditions of the methanol reforming process (in particular, reforming temperature and steam-to-carbon molar ratio). The results of the study show that, at the optimum reforming conditions (reforming temperature of about 210-230 °C and steam-to-carbon ratios around 1) the efficiency of the CRMGT plant is about 4 percentage points higher than that of the corresponding MGT plant, with similar power outputs. However, due to the higher carbon content (referred to LHV) of methanol the specific CO2 emissions of CRMGT power plants are about 6-7% higher than that of the corresponding MGT power plant fuelled by natural gas.
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