초록 ▼

A combustion process, e.g. for a gas turbine, comprises catalytically combusting part of a fuel/air feed in a preliminary catalyst body which has through passages and supports, or is composed of, a catalyst active for the combustion of the fuel. The resultant heated gas stream is then mixed with the

A combustion process, e.g. for a gas turbine, comprises catalytically combusting part of a fuel/air feed in a preliminary catalyst body which has through passages and supports, or is composed of, a catalyst active for the combustion of the fuel. The resultant heated gas stream is then mixed with the remainder of the feed, and that mixture is combusted, e.g. catalytically in a main catalyst body. The amount of combustion occurring in the preliminary catalyst body is sufficient that combustion of the mixture of the heated gas stream and the remainder of the feed can be sustained at the desired operating conditions. Under those desired operating conditions combustion of the feed could not be sustained in the absence of the heating given by the combustion in the preliminary catalyst body. There may be more than one preliminary catalyst body. The preliminary catalyst body or bodies may also be provided with passages wherein combustion does not take place under the desired operating conditions so that those passages act as a bypass. Preferably the combustion passages of at least the first preliminary catalyst body are of such size, that at the normal operating conditions, the flow therethrough is laminar, whereas the flow through the passages of the main catalyst body, where employed, is turbulent.

대표청구항 ▼

A process for the catalytic combustion of a combustible gaseous mixture of a fuel and a combustion-supporting gas wherein said combustible mixture is fed at an elevated feed temperature to combustion apparatus including at least first and second preliminary catalyst bodies and a main catalyst body,

A process for the catalytic combustion of a combustible gaseous mixture of a fuel and a combustion-supporting gas wherein said combustible mixture is fed at an elevated feed temperature to combustion apparatus including at least first and second preliminary catalyst bodies and a main catalyst body, each of which catalyst bodies have combustion passages comprising a catalyst for the combustion of said combustible mixture, said process including the steps of a) feeding, at said elevated feed temperature, a first part of said combustible mixture through said combustion passages of said first preliminary catalyst body which are of such size, in relation to the linear gas velocity therethrough, that catalytic combustion of said first part is sustained therein, thereby giving at least one first heated gas stream, b) feeding, at said elevated feed temperature, a second part of the combustible mixture through said combustion passages of said second preliminary catalyst body which are of such size, in relation to the linear gas velocity therethrough, that catalytic combustion of said second part is sustained therein, thereby giving at least one second heated gas stream, c) mixing said first and second heated gas streams with the remainder of said combustible mixture to give a heated combustible mixture at a temperature above that at which combustion of said heated combustible mixture can be sustained; and thereafter d) combusting said heated combustible mixture, including passing said heated combustible mixture through said combustion passages of said main catalyst body, whereby at least part of the combustion of said heated combustible mixture takes place in said combustion passages of said main catalyst body, said combustible mixture being fed to said combustion apparatus at a total mass flow rate greater than that at which combustion would be sustained with the feed of said combustible mixture at said elevated feed temperature in the absence of the combustion occurring in said combustion passages of said preliminary catalyst bodies.