Abstract: Optical flame holding and flashback detection systems and methods are provided. Exemplary embodiments include a combustor including a combustor housing defining a combustion chamber having combustion zones, flame detectors disposed on the combustor housing and in optical communication with the combustion chamber, wherein each of the flame detectors is configured to detect an optical property related to one or more of the combustion zones.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling a temperature of an exhaust gas being introduced to a catalyst is provided. Using an adjustable flow controller, an adjustable amount of tempering fluid is provided to the exhaust gas prior to the exhaust gas proceeding to the catalyst. A sensor senses a parameter indicative of a temperature of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst. A computer processor uses a relationship to relate the parameter to an adjustment of the adjustable flow controller that will adjust the amount of tempering fluid provided to the exhaust gas and change the temperature of the exhaust gas being introduced to the catalyst toward a target temperature. Adjustment of the adjustable flow controller is initiated by the computer processor to change the flow of the tempering fluid, and the relationship between the parameter and the adjustment of the adjustable flow controller is updated.

Abstract: In one aspect, a combustion system is configured to facilitate preventing the formation of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) and decrease a concentration of at least one of vanadium trioxide (V2O3) and vanadium tetroxide (V2O4) particles in an exhaust. The combustion system includes a vanadium-containing fuel supply and a combustor. The combustor is configured to generate a combustor exhaust gas including vanadium trioxide (V2O3) and/or vanadium tetroxide (V2O4) particles and to combust a reduced-oxygen mixture including the vanadium-containing fuel, ambient air, and a portion of the combustor exhaust gas. The combustion system also includes a particle separator configured to remove substantially all of the V2O3 and/or V2O4 particles from the combustor exhaust gas. A method for combusting fuel and a power generation system are also provided.

Abstract: The present application provides for a combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a cap member and a number of fuel nozzles extending through the cap member. One or more of the fuel nozzles may be provided in a non-flush position with respect to the cap member.

Abstract: A combined cycle power plant includes a compressor section including a compressor inlet and a compressor outlet, and a turbine section operatively connected to the compressor section. The turbine section includes a turbine inlet and a turbine outlet. A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is fluidly connected to the turbine outlet. A combustor includes a head end and a combustor discharge. The head end is fluidly connected to the compressor outlet and the combustor discharge is fluidly connected to the turbine inlet. A carbon dioxide collection system is fluidly connected to one of the compressor outlet and the head end of the combustor. The carbon dioxide collection system is configured and disposed to extract a first fluid comprising carbon dioxide and a second fluid from a substantially oxygen free fluid flow passed from the one of the compressor outlet and the head end of the combustor.

Abstract: A turbine to detect a flame holding event includes a combustion section to receive a fluid from a compressor, to heat the fluid by combusting a fuel to generate heat, and to output the heated fluid to a turbine section. The combustion section includes a combustor having a combustion chamber in which the fuel is combusted, and the combustion section having a sensor to sense a static pressure within the combustion chamber. A combustion control device detects a flame holding event in the combustion chamber based only on the sensed static pressure.

Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a combustion duct in a combustion system of a turbine engine while the turbine engine operates, wherein the combustion duct comprises an inner surface, which, during operation, is exposed to the hot-gas flowpath, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first electrode that is electrically connected to the combustion duct; providing a second electrode that resides within the hot-gas flowpath; applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode; and detecting current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors, and each combustor includes a fuel nozzle and a combustion chamber downstream from the fuel nozzle. Each fuel nozzle includes an axially extending center body, a shroud that circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the axially extending center body, a plurality of vanes that extend radially between the center body and the shroud, a first fuel port through at least one of the plurality of vanes at a first axial distance from the combustion chamber, the plurality of vanes being located at a second axial distance from the combustion chamber. A second fuel port is provided through the center body at a third axial distance from the combustion chamber. The system further includes structure for producing a combustion instability frequency in the first combustor that is different from the combustion instability frequency in the second combustor.

Abstract: A system includes a catalytic reactor configured to mount to a combustor. The catalytic reactor includes a catalyst configured to reduce emissions associated with combustion in the combustor. The catalytic reactor also includes a first sacrificial coating disposed over the catalyst prior to mounting of the catalytic reactor into the combustor, wherein the first sacrificial coating is removable while the catalytic reactor is mounted to the combustor without damaging the catalyst.

Abstract: A gas turbine inlet fogging system using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) atomization is disclosed. In one embodiment, the inlet fogging system includes: a gas turbine system including an air inlet duct, and a plurality of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) nozzles coupled to a water supply, the plurality of EHD nozzles configured to provide a water-spray for reducing a temperature of inlet air drawn into the air inlet duct. In another embodiment, an inlet fogging system for a gas turbine system includes: a plurality of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) nozzles, and a water supply in fluid communication with the plurality of EHD nozzles.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors arranged about an axis, and each combustor includes a cap assembly that extends radially across at least a portion of the combustor and a combustion chamber downstream from the cap assembly. Each cap assembly includes a plurality of tubes that extend axially through the cap assembly to provide fluid communication through the cap assembly to the combustion chamber and a fuel injector that extends through each tube to provide fluid communication into each tube. Each cap assembly has an axial length, and the axial length of the cap assembly in the first combustor is different than the axial length of the cap assembly in the second combustor.

Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine. The combustor and turbine define a hot gas path. A sensor disposed outside the hot gas path measures internal thermal emissions from the combustor or turbine and generates a first signal reflective of the internal thermal emissions. The internal thermal emissions are infrared or ultraviolet emissions. A controller connected to the sensor receives the first signal and adjusts the compressor, combustor, or turbine in response to the first signal from the sensor. A method for operating a gas turbine includes measuring internal thermal emissions from inside a combustor or turbine using a sensor disposed outside the hot gas path. The method further includes generating a first signal reflective of the internal thermal emissions and adjusting the operation of the compressor, combustor, or turbine in response to the first signal from the sensor.

Abstract: A system for detecting defects in a turbine rotor blade of a combustion turbine engine. The system may include: a turbine rotor blade that includes an insulator coating; a first electrode that is electrically connected to the turbine rotor blade; a second electrode that resides in proximity to the turbine rotor blade; means for inducing a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode; and means for detecting current flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for premixing combustion fuel and air within gas turbines. In one embodiment, a combustor includes an upstream mixing panel configured to direct compressed air and combustion fuel through a premixing zone to form a fuel-air mixture. The combustor also includes a downstream mixing panel configured to mix additional combustion fuel with the fuel-air mixture to form a combustion mixture.

Abstract: The present application thus provides a combustor for use with a gas turbine engine. The combustor may include a turbine nozzle and a liner cooling system integral with the turbine nozzle. The liner cooling system may include a liner with one or more cooling features thereon and an impingement sleeve.

Abstract: A coating process, a coating, and a coated component are disclosed. The coating process includes providing a MCrAlY substrate, applying a thermal barrier coating to the MCrAlY substrate, applying a flash layer to the thermal barrier coating, the flash layer including an inert ceramic, applying a reaction product deposition onto the thermal barrier coating, the reaction product deposition including reaction products selected from the group consisting of a magnesium oxide compound, a magnesium orthovanadate compound, a magnesium vanadate compound, a magnesium pyrovanadate compound, a magnesium sulfate compound, and combinations thereof. The reaction products are by-products of a doped fuel.

Abstract: A flame detector in photonic communication with a no-flame region of a combustor of a gas turbine may emit a signal when a photon is detected. A controller may be arranged to receive a signal from the flame detector and may determine whether a flame presence in the no-flame region is indicated responsive to the signal.

Abstract: Gas turbine combustor with a specific fuel and oxidizer flow arrangement which provides high combustion efficiency for stoichiometric diffusion combustion in gas turbine applications operating with oxygen deficient working fluids.

Abstract: The present application thus provides a fuel nozzle for use with one or more flows of fuel and a flow of air in a combustor. The fuel nozzle may include one or more gas fuel passages for the one or more of flows of fuel, a swirler with one or more air chambers therein surrounding the gas fuel passages, and a collar with one or more curtain slots surrounding the swirler. The flow of air is divided between a swirler flow through the air chambers and a curtain flow through the curtain slots.

Abstract: A power plant control system monitors a flame holding boundary indicator, such as Damköhler number, to determine a lowest amount of a quenching agent that can prevent flame holding in a predefined region of a gas turbine. In embodiments, the amount of quenching agent used may be minimized to reduce operating costs while ensuring safe operation of the gas turbine.