A simple method of operating gas turbines on coal, biomass and other renewable fuels

摘要

CAT is a gas turbine system fuelled by coal, renewable, or other ash bearing fuel. The system was initially conceived to operate on coal and is named "CAT", an acronym for Coal Air Turbine. Combustion is external to the gas turbine, which operates on clean air and is called an "Air Turbine". "CAT" can operate on coal of all grades also, coke, blast furnace gas, biomass and other difficult fuels. The "CAT" cycle avoids the problem of ash in the fuel of gas turbines, by combustion outside the machinery and heating the compressed air in a heat exchanger. Heat is supplied to normal gas turbines by combustion of fuel within the blade path, contaminants or ash in the fuel damage the machinery and have prevented successful operation of gas turbines on fuels containing ash. "CAT" operates at the same temperature as Pressurized Fluid Bed cycles and avoids the gas cooling loss of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycles so is equally efficient as both cycles. Compared to PFB and IGCC, "CAT" is less complicated in construction and operation, is lower cost.