Turbine test programs, combustion

The situation is somewhat different in terms of large scale combustion turbine test programs. Resumption of a methanol test burn is scheduled for early 1979. It was originally scheduled for a total of 500 hours of running time, averaging about four hours per day of actual operation. However a fire at the station, which was not related to the use of methanol, caused a six-month delay. 

VFO works well in gas turbines. In a nine-month test program, the combustion properties of VFO were studied in a combustion test module. A gas turbine was also operated on VFO. The tests were conducted to study the combustion characteristics of VFO, the erosive and corrosive effects of VFO, and the operation of a gas turbine on VFO. The combustion tests were conducted on a combustion test module built from a GE Frame 5 combustion can and liner. The gas turbine tests were conducted on a Ford model 707 industrial gas turbine. Both the combustion module and gas turbine were used in the erosion and corrosion evaluation. The combustion tests showed the VFO to match natural gas in flame patterns, temperature profile, and flame color. The operation of the gas turbine revealed that the gas turbine not only operated well on VFO, but its performance was improved. The turbine inlet temperature was lower at a given output with VFO than with either natural gas or diesel fuel. This phenomenon is due to the increase in exhaust mass flow provided by the addition of steam in the diesel for the vaporization process. Following the tests, a thorough inspection was made of materials in the combustion module and on the gas turbine, which came into contact with the vaporized fuel or with the combustion gas. The inspection revealed no harmful effects on any of the components due to the use of VFO. 

Testing of turbine fuels is handled in an analogous manner. Three sizes of test rigs have been utilized in the EPRI combustion test program-mini, sub-scale,and single combustor cans. 

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