EFFECTS OF VITIATION ON AXIAL CATALYST BED TEMPERATURE PROFILES.

Studies have been conducted at Engelhard Research Laboratories under an EPRI sponsored subcontract from Westinghouse to experimentally determine performance characteristics of Catcom* catalysts at simulated gas turbine combustion conditions using No. 2 fuel. A comparison study was carried out using a 1-in. diameter laboratory reactor and a 9-in, diameter burner. 5-in. and 6-in, catalysts lengths were tested in the laboratory reactor and the 6-in, length in the burner. Effects of vitiated versus indirect preheat were investigated together with varying adiabatic flame temperature (based on fuel/air ratios), catalyst inlet reference velocity and catalyst length. Process variable upset conditions were simulated in the 9-in, burner and over fueling was simulated in the 1-in. reactor. The temperature profiles, combustion efficiencies and pressure drop data obtained can be used to assess performance of anticipated catalytic combustor designs for gas turbine systems. These results continue to show that CATCOM catalysts and the Catathermal* mode of combustion can be applied practically to large scale gas turbine equipment.Copyright © 1981 by ASME