The DOE Turbine Program

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6.0.1
The DOE Turbine
Program:
Overall Program
Description
6.0.1-1 Introduction
The focus of the DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE) Advanced Turbine
Program is on the key technologies needed to enable development of
advanced turbines that will operate cleanly and efficiently when fueled
with coal-derived synthesis gas and hydrogen fuels. Developing turbine
technology to operate on these fuels is critical to the development of
advanced zero-emission power generation technologies such as
FutureGen type plants that will minimize emissions of carbon dioxide.
These plants will most likely be based on integrated gasification
combined-cycle systems, and consequently should be capable of utilizing
coal-derived synthesis gas as well as hydrogen. The Turbine Program is
an investment in secure U.S. electric power production that is clean,
efficient, affordable, and fuel-flexible, and will make possible the
continued use of coal our Nation's largest domestic fossil energy resource
— coal.
The FE Turbine Program R&D is supporting the adaptation and
development of existing and new advanced gas turbines for application to
coal-derived hydrogen fuels and synthesis fuels. Studies, both ongoing
and completed, have identified concepts for optimization and
modification of large frame combustion turbines in integrated gasification
combined-cycle (IGCC) applications. These studies have determined the
concepts, technologies, and modifications needed to meet the goals for
near-zero emissions, higher efficiency, and lower capital cost machines
for application to coal-derived fuels such as syngas and hydrogen.
Technology base activities will provide the basic underpinning for the
Program areas to resolve advanced systems, material, heat transfer,
aerodynamic, and combustion technical issues, as machines and systems
are modified for high-hydrogen fuels derived from coal.
The FE Turbine Program, as administered by DOE’s National Energy
Technology Laboratory (NETL), is designed to provide low-cost
solutions to Presidential initiatives, and provide technological solutions to
high level DOE goals. These initiatives include:
1) Climate Change Initiative
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/climatechange.html)
2) Clear Skies Initiative
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/02/clearskies.html)
3) FutureGen Initiative
(http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/)
4) Hydrogen Initiative
(http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/pdfs/review04/2_mill
er_philadelphia_04.pdf)
Specific goals presented below are written for Advanced Coal-Based
Power Systems, and are designed to support these Presidential initiatives.
The Advanced Power Systems goals are addressed for the most part by
the efforts of the DOE-FE Gasification and Turbine Programs. This is
particularly true for the 2010 goal, with improved efficiency and costs.
The 2012 goal brings in the additional accomplishments and progress
made by the CO2 Sequestration Program.