Abstract: A method to adjust the back pressure applied to an exhaust of a gas turbine, the method including: exhausting hot combustion gas from the gas turbine; passing the hot combustion gas through a heat recovery steam generator; actuating an exhaust gas damper in the stream of the hot combustion gases, wherein actuation moves the exhaust gas damper to a restricted position, and while in the restricted position, the exhaust damper creates a backpressure applied to the exhaust gas, wherein the backpressure reduces an exhaust gas velocity at an exhaust of the gas turbine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for power plant data reconciliation are provided. According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a system may include a controller and a processor in communication with the controller. The processor may be configured to run a power plant under a plurality of operational conditions. While the power plant is running, the processor may be configured to automatically collect operational data associated with the power plant. The collected data may be stored in a predefined location. Furthermore, the processor may be configured to select stable data from the operational data to coincide with output data associated with a power plant model. One or more parameters of the power plant model may be modified, and at least one difference may be minimized between the output data associated with the power plant model and a measured value in the power plant operational data.

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: A first portion of each of a plurality of Qu-type heat pipes is disposed in a hot gas path, and a second portion of each of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes disposed away from the hot gas path. Also, the first portion of each of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes extracts heat from the hot gas path and wherein the second portion of each of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes creates a vapor that exits each second portion of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes and away from the hot gas path.

Abstract: A system includes a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), a waste heat exchanger coupled to the HRSG and configured to transfer heat from the HRSG to a purge stream to generate a heated purge stream, and a heated purge stream path configured to transfer the heated purge stream from the waste heat exchanger to an inlet of the HRSG.

Abstract: Combustion systems having reduced nitrogen oxide emissions and methods of using the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a combustion system is provided. The combustion system includes a combustion zone, which includes a burner for converting a fuel, under fuel rich conditions, to a flue gas. An intermediate staged air inlet is downstream from the combustion zone, for supplying intermediate staged air to the flue gas and producing fuel lean conditions. A reburn zone is downstream from the intermediate staged air inlet for receiving the flue gas. A process for using the combustion system and a method of reducing NOX flowing into the reburn zone of a combustion system are also described herein.

Abstract: A combustion system for combusting air and fuel includes a primary combustion zone configured to produce combustion gases from the air and the fuel and an intermediate air zone downstream from the primary combustion zone. The intermediate air zone is configured to inject an intermediate air stream into the combustion gases. The combustion system further includes a burnout zone downstream from the intermediate air zone, wherein the burnout zone is configured to inject an overfire air stream into the combustion gases, and at least one hybrid-boosted air injector within at least one of the intermediate air zone and the burnout zone. The at least one hybrid-boosted air injector is configured to substantially simultaneously inject a boosted air stream and a windbox air stream into the combustion gases.

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: A method of decreasing a concentration of nitrogen oxides in a combustion gas flowing through a vessel including: generating a flue gas in a combustion zone of the vessel, the flue gas containing nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide; providing overfire air into a burnout zone of the vessel from a first injector of overfire air to oxidize at least some of the carbon monoxide in the flue gas; injecting a selective reducing agent concurrent with overfire air at a level in the burnout zone downstream of the first injector of overfire air and downstream of the oxidization of the carbon monoxide, and reacting the selective reducing agent with the flue gas to reduce the nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: A flash atomizer comprising a channel substrate configured to generate a vapor and form a two-phase flow of a fluid; and an enhanced surface disposed on the channel substrate and configured to change a temperature and a pressure required to form the vapor, wherein the enhanced surface texture comprises a plurality of active nucleation sites configured to promote heterogeneous bubble nucleation.

Abstract: A method of decreasing a concentration of nitrogen oxides in a combustion gas flowing through a vessel including: generating a flue gas in a combustion zone of the vessel, the flue gas containing nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide; providing overfire air into a burnout zone of the vessel from a first injector of overfire air to oxidize at least some of the carbon monoxide in the flue gas; injecting a selective reducing agent concurrent with overfire air at a level in the burnout zone downstream of the first injector of overfire air and downstream of the oxidization of the carbon monoxide, and reacting the selective reducing agent with the flue gas to reduce the nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: A first portion of each of a plurality of Qu-type heat pipes is disposed in a hot gas path, and a second portion of each of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes disposed away from the hot gas path. Also, the first portion of each of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes extracts heat from the hot gas path and wherein the second portion of each of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes creates a vapor that exits each second portion of the plurality of Qu-type heat pipes and away from the hot gas path.

Abstract: A method of decreasing a concentration of nitrogen oxides in a combustion gas flowing through a vessel including: generating a flue gas in a combustion zone of the vessel, the flue gas containing nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide; providing overfire air into a burnout zone of the vessel from a first injector of overfire air to oxidize at least some of the carbon monoxide in the flue gas; injecting a selective reducing agent concurrent with overfire air at a level in the burnout zone downstream of the first injector of overfire air and downstream of the oxidization of the carbon monoxide, and reacting the selective reducing agent with the flue gas to reduce the nitrogen oxides.

Abstract: A combustion system for combusting air and fuel includes a primary combustion zone configured to produce combustion gases from the air and the fuel and an intermediate air zone downstream from the primary combustion zone. The intermediate air zone is configured to inject an intermediate air stream into the combustion gases. The combustion system further includes a burnout zone downstream from the intermediate air zone, wherein the burnout zone is configured to inject an overfire air stream into the combustion gases, and at least one hybrid-boosted air injector within at least one of the intermediate air zone and the burnout zone. The at least one hybrid-boosted air injector is configured to substantially simultaneously inject a boosted air stream and a windbox air stream into the combustion gases.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel-fired furnace including at least one burner is provided. The method includes channeling a first fluid flow to the at least one burner at a first predetermined velocity, and channeling a second fluid flow to the at least one burner at a second predetermined velocity during a first mode of operation of the at least one burner. The second predetermined velocity is different than the first predetermined velocity.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus for combusting including: a boiler defining an enclosed flue gas path having a combustion zone and a burnout zone, wherein flue gas is formed in the combustion zone and the combustion flue gas comprising nitrogen oxides; a fuel injector aligned with and introducing fuel into the combustion zone and a combustion air injector aligned with and introducing air into the combustion zone; an overfire air system adjacent the burnout zone comprising an overfire air port adjacent the burnout zone and through which overfire air flows into the burnout zone, and a nitrogen reagent injector having an outlet aligned with the overfire air system and injecting nitrogen reagent gas or small droplets into said overfire air, wherein said small droplets have an average diameter of no greater than 50 microns.

Abstract: A combustion system includes a combustion zone comprising a burner for converting a fuel, under fuel rich conditions, to a flue gas; an intermediate staged air zone downstream from the combustion zone for supplying intermediate staged air to the flue gas and producing fuel lean conditions; a reburn zone downstream from the intermediate staged air zone for receiving the flue gas; and an inlet downstream from the combustion zone for supplying a mixture of air and a reduction reagent to the flue gas, wherein the reduction reagent is configured to reduce an amount of a pollutant species in the flue gas.

Abstract: A flash atomizer comprising a channel substrate configured to generate a vapor and form a two-phase flow of a fluid; and an enhanced surface disposed on the channel substrate and configured to change a temperature and a pressure required to form the vapor, wherein the enhanced surface texture comprises a plurality of active nucleation sites configured to promote heterogeneous bubble nucleation.

Abstract: Combustion systems having reduced nitrogen oxide emissions and methods of using the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a combustion system is provided. The combustion system includes a combustion zone, which includes a burner for converting a fuel, under fuel rich conditions, to a flue gas. An intermediate staged air inlet is downstream from the combustion zone, for supplying intermediate staged air to the flue gas and producing fuel lean conditions. A reburn zone is downstream from the intermediate staged air inlet for receiving the flue gas. A process for using the combustion system and a method of reducing NOX flowing into the reburn zone of a combustion system are also described herein.

Abstract: A method for operating a fuel-fired furnace including at least one burner is provided. The method includes channeling a first fluid flow to the at least one burner at a first predetermined velocity, and channeling a second fluid flow to the at least one burner at a second predetermined velocity during a first mode of operation of the at least one burner. The second predetermined velocity is different than the first predetermined velocity.