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TECHNICAL PAPERS: Gas Turbines: Cycle Innovations

# $H2∕O2$ Cycles: Thermodynamic Potentialities and Limits

[+] Author and Article Information
M. Gambini

Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Via del Politecnico n. 1, 00133 Rome, Italygambini@ing.uniroma2.it

G. L. Guizzi, M. Vellini

Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome “Tor Vergata,” Via del Politecnico n. 1, 00133 Rome, Italy

J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power 127(3), 553-563 (Aug 10, 2004) (11 pages) doi:10.1115/1.1924401 History: Received July 29, 2003; Revised August 10, 2004

## Abstract

In this paper, the thermodynamic potentialities and limits of the $H2∕O2$ turbine cycles (afterward named only $H2∕O2$ cycles) are investigated. Starting from the conventional gas turbine and steam turbine technology, the paper qualitatively tackles problems related to a change of oxidizer and fuel: from these considerations, an internal combustion steam cycle is analyzed where steam, injected into the combustion chamber together with oxygen and hydrogen, is produced in a regenerative way and plays the important role of inert. A proper parametric analysis is then performed in order to evaluate the influence of the main working parameters on the overall performance of $H2∕O2$ cycles. All the results are carried out by neglecting the energy requirements for $O2$ and $H2$ production systems, but taking into account the work required by the $O2$ and $H2$ compression. This choice permits a great freedom in the definition of these thermodynamic cycles; moreover, it is possible to come to some general conclusions because the $H2$ and/or $O2$ production systems and their integrations with thermodynamic cycles do not have to be specified. Therefore, this paper can be framed in a context of centralized production of oxygen and hydrogen (by nuclear or renewable energy sources, for example) and their distribution as pure gases in the utilization place. By adopting some realistic assumptions, for example, a top temperature of $1350°C$, the potentialities of $H2∕O2$ cycles are very limited: the net efficiency attains a value of about 50%. Instead, by adopting futurist assumptions, for example, a top temperature of $1700°C$, a different $H2∕O2$ cycle scheme can be proposed and its performance becomes more interesting (the net efficiency is over 60%). The paper tackles the main thermodynamic and technological subjects of the $H2∕O2$ cycles: for example, it is underlined how the choice of the working parameters of these cycles strongly influences the attainable performance.

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## Figures

Figure 6

AMC power plant

Figure 7

H2∕O2 cycle scheme: reference case

Figure 17

New H2∕O2 cycle performance (TIT=1700°C)

Figure 8

H2∕O2 cycle performance (TIT=1350°C)

Figure 5

Hybrid scheme with atmospheric separator

Figure 14

H2∕O2 cycle scheme: new reference case

Figure 15

New H2∕O2 cycle performance (TIT=1350°C)

Figure 16

New H2∕O2 cycle performance (TIT=1500°C)

Figure 1

Combined cycle layout with n combustions

Figure 2

O2 fraction as function of the combustion chambers

Figure 3

Qualitative internal combustion steam cycle on the plane T-s

Figure 9

H2∕O2 cycle working parameters (TIT=1350°C)

Figure 10

Reference case: material and energetic balances

Figure 11

Reference case: thermodynamic cycle (referred to the unitary mass of steam)

Figure 12

H2∕O2 cycle performance (TIT=1500°C)

Figure 13

H2∕O2 cycle performance (TIT=1700°C)

Figure 4

Hybrid scheme with pressurized separator

Figure 18

New reference case: material and energetic balances

Figure 19

New reference case: thermodynamic cycle (referred to the unitary mass of steam)

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