Measurements inside a bluff-body stabilized gas turbine combustor for application of pressurized biomass derived low calorific value fuel gas and comparison of the results

A medium size gas turbine combustor of 1.5 MW of Delft University (TUD) has been tested to combust low calorific value (LCV) fuel gas. The LCV gas was obtained from pressurized gasification of wood pellets class A, miscanthus giganteus and brown coal and was cleaned from its particulates by high temperature ceramic filters of β-cordierite. Stable combustion of (biomass derived) low calorific value fuel gas with heating values (LHV) between 1.64 and 4.48 MJ/m³_n (50 to 120 Btu/scf) was accomplished due to high fuel gas temperatures ranging from 845 to 1099 K. Main species (O ₂, CO₂,) and minor species (Ar, CH₄, H ₂, CO, NO) were measured in the exhaust and by a traversing probe after the primary zone of the combustor. The water and nitrogen contents in the exhaust were calculated from the element balances. The results are compared with a previously tested combustor of ALSTOM Power of the RQL type.