An analysis of the effects of hydrogen addition to natural gas on the work of gas appliances

摘要

Investigation results of hydrogen addition to natural gas 2E on the work of selected gas appliances for both domestic (gas hob with burners equipped with adjustable combustion air aperture, gas-fired air heaters for space heating, air heater type balanced flue, gas fireplace) and commercial (gas stock pot range, gas-fired overhead luminous radiant heater) use have been presented in this paper. A brief description of gas appliances chosen for testing has been given. Gas burners and automation installed in the above mentioned appliances were prepared for natural gas combustion. The tests were carried out with three mixtures of natural gas with 10%, 15% and 23% of hydrogen. Approximate compositions of gases used in the tests and their energy parameters were provided. The following parameters were checked: combustion quality, ignition, cross lighting and flame stability, nominal heat input and thermal efficiency. The results obtained for each device, with consideration of all tested operational and safety parameters, were discussed. When analyzing the results, special attention was given to the matter of heat input of appliances, lowering with decreasing energy parameters of particular gases with hydrogen addition and to the effect of the above on thermal efficiency of the appliance tested. The results were presented on diagrams. The conclusions were formulated considering why, depending on the construction of a particular appliance, the decrease in heat input differently effected its thermal efficiency. By basing on the obtained results the following questions were answered: 1.Whether the safe and proper operation of domestic appliances might not be affected by hydrogen addition to natural gas; 2.What amount of hydrogen could be added to natural gas in order to ensure safe and not requiring any modification operation of appliances adapted to natural gas combustion.