The ACHIEVE project, an innovative initiative aimed at advancing gas turbine technology sustainably, has been launched in Rome on 16 February 2024. Funded by the Horizon Europe Program of the European Commission and supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, ACHIEVE is set to develop solutions to reduce pollutant emissions from gas turbines.
The project is led by Universita Degli Studi Di Roma La Sapienza (UNIROMA, Italy) and involves a consortium of international partners, including Universita Degli Studi Di Firenze (UNIFI, Italy), Technische Universitat Berlin (TUB, Germany), Technische Universiteit Delft (TU Delft, Netherlands), Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, France), CentraleSupelec (France), Phoenix BioPower (Sweden and Switzerland), State Enterprise Mashproekt Gas Turbine Research and Production Complex (Zorya, Ukraine), ZABALA Innovation (ZABALA, Spain), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST, Saudi Arabia).
Objective of ACHIEVE Project
The ACHIEVE project focuses on integrating hydrogen (H2) and ammonia (NH3) as energy carriers in the European Union, specifically in gas turbine applications. The primary goal is to understand the combustion characteristics of these unconventional fuel blends to develop validated solutions that reduce greenhouse gases like CO2 and pollutant emissions such as NOx, while maintaining stable gas turbine operation.
Key Objectives:
- Evaluate the performance of unconventional H2 blends in combustion systems.
- Validate conventional swirl stabilized Dry Low Emission (DLE) combustion systems with H2 blends.
- Validate stable, low-emission Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion systems for H2 blends.
- Develop real-time monitoring systems for flames of H2 blends.
- Improve understanding of thermoacoustic instabilities of H2 blends.
- Develop chemical kinetics tools and evaluate emissions for H2 blends.
- Create computational tools to enhance predictive capability of high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).
- Address barriers to large-scale deployment of ACHIEVE’s results.
- Impact on Sustainable Gas Turbine Technology
ACHIEVE aims to mitigate the environmental impact of gas turbine power generation by reducing emissions through the use of carbon-free fuels. This project will provide the fundamental knowledge required for the transition to unconventional fuel blends based on hydrogen and ammonia. The goal is to achieve zero carbon emissions, ultra-low NOx emissions, and stable gas turbine operation.
Project Strategy
ACHIEVE’s strategy includes experimental and numerical activities to advance the technology readiness level (TRL) up to 4 for low-emission combustors. Experimental campaigns will test combustor stability limits, emissions, and combustion characteristics of hydrogen blends. Numerical activities will address challenges in combustion modelling, including chemical kinetics and flame dynamics.
Stakeholder Engagement
ACHIEVE will engage with industry stakeholders, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and end-users to leverage the project’s results. This engagement will facilitate the transition to carbon-free fuels for power generation and promote the widespread adoption of ACHIEVE’s outcomes.
The ACHIEVE project represents a significant step towards a sustainable future for gas turbine technology, contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources.