Microturbine with DLN combustor logs 1,000 operating hours with liquid fuels

LPP Combustion, LLC's technology for vaporizing a wide variety of liquid fuels into a natural gas-equivalent LPP Gas has logged 1000 operating hours on a commercial combustion turbine that is generating electricity while connected to the local utility grid.  Fourteen different liquid fuels including bio-ethanol, naphtha, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and biodiesel were used to produce power during the 1000 hours of operation.  No alterations were made to the dry, low NOx combustion system on the turbine.  The combination of the LPP Combustion vaporization system producing LPP Gasand the Capstone C30 combustion turbine operated with a reliability and availability exceeding 99% over the 1000 operating hours.

LPP Combustion, LLC has installed and is operating the Capstone C30, designed solely for natural gas operation, in its facility in Columbia, MD.  The turbine is on loan from Harbec Inc., Ontario, NY, a leader in sustainable production of injection molded parts and machined components.

During this operating period, LPP Combustion typically ran for 14 to 18 hours a day, five days a week, supplying electricity for lights, computers, and HVAC with excess power sent to the grid.  

The air emissions on gasoline measured at the conclusion of the 1000 operating hours were less than 5 ppm NOx and 10 ppm CO (@15%O2), essentially unchanged from those measured using LPP Gas(TM) at the commencement of the operating period.  These emissions compare favorably to natural gas emissions of less than 5 ppm NOx and 50 ppm CO (@15%O2).  Also, LPP Combustion performed over fifty (50) "black" starts of the system over the operating period.

The LPP Combustion fuel preparation system overcomes the operational and emissions barriers between using liquid fuels and natural gas in combustion turbines. The patented technology offers fuel flexibility, improved heat rate, and reduced maintenance without the 80% increase in emissions associated with conventional burning of liquid fuels.  LPP Combustion's packaged, skid-mounted fuel preparation system can be easily installed at new or existing facilities with a minimum of work on-site, and can be utilized with almost any burner designed to run on natural gas.