GE to work on decarbonisation of energy systems

GE Gas Power has secured $4.2mn in federal funding from the US department of energy’s advanced research projects agency-energy to work on decarbonisation of energy system, GE said on July 28.

GE Gas Power’s funding is focused on two projects: lifted-flame combustion for high-hydrogen reheat gas turbines and manufacturing high-yield investment castings with minimal energy. Both initiatives will be led by GE Gas Power and conducted at GE’s Global Technology Center in Greenville, South Carolina.

As part of these projects, GE will conduct research for gas turbine decarbonisation in close collaboration with industrial companies and educational institutions.

With lifted-flame combustion for high-hydrogen reheat gas turbines project, GE Gas Power will investigate a novel lifted-flame combustion approach for advanced gas turbine engines powered by mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen.

“This new technology and research aim to break the current, materials-limited upper bound efficiency barrier for new gas turbines and installed base retrofits and create a new GTCC [gas turbine combined cycle] growth trajectory—targeting net plant efficiencies of 67% or greater on a wide range of fuel compositions, all while meeting strict emissions standards,” the company said.

The manufacturing high-yield investment castings with minimal energy project will develop and combine key elements of casting technology including an innovative furnace development, as well as 3D printed additive ceramic mold technologies that will fundamentally change the production of high-value metal components for gas turbines.

“The new system could produce cast parts using up to 90% less energy than traditional methods, as well as provide improved quality, consistency, and yield, all at lower cost,” GE said.