Improved Combustion Turbine Efficiency With Reformed Alcohol Fuels

A high-efficiency, alcohol-burning combustion turbine system is described. The system's high efficiency is the result of an endothermic catalytic reforming of the alcohol fuel using exhaust gas waste heat. A performance analysis of a catalytic reformer for methanol, methanol/water, and ethanol/water mixtures is presented. System performance predictions for a Westinghouse 501D (100 MW /SUB e/ ) combustion turbine show significant improvements in efficiency and power over distillate fuel and potential reductions in NO /SUB x/ emissions. An economic comparison with distillate fuel indicates the time when a reformed alcohol combustion turbine could be feasible.