System and method for producing hydrogen rich fuel

Abstract

A system for providing hydrogen enriched fuel includes first and second gas turbines. The second gas turbine receives a portion of compressed working fluid from the first gas turbine and produces a reformed fuel, and a fuel skid provides fluid communication between a turbine in the second gas turbine and a combustor in the first gas turbine. A method for providing hydrogen enriched fuel includes diverting a portion of a first compressed working fluid from a first compressor to a second compressor and providing a second compressed working fluid from the second compressor. The method further includes mixing a fuel with the second compressed working fluid in a reformer to produce a reformed fuel, flowing the reformed fuel through a second turbine to cool the reformed fuel, and connecting the second turbine to the second compressor so that the second turbine drives the second compressor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing hydrogen enriched fuel, comprising:
 a. a first gas turbine comprising:
 i. a first compressor, wherein the first compressor produces a first compressed working fluid; 
 ii. a combustor downstream of the first compressor; 
 iii. a first turbine downstream of the combustor; 
   b. a second gas turbine comprising:
 i. a second compressor in fluid communication with the first compressor, wherein the second compressor receives a portion of the first compressed working fluid from the first compressor and produces a second compressed working fluid having a higher pressure than the first compressed working fluid; 
 ii. a reformer downstream of the second compressor, wherein the reformer receives the second compressed working fluid and produces a reformed fuel; 
 iii. a second turbine downstream of the reformer, wherein the second turbine receives the reformed fuel and produces a cooled reformed fuel; 
 iv. a shaft connecting the second turbine to the second compressor and providing a driving engagement between the second turbine and the second compressor; and 
   c. a fuel skid in fluid communication with the second turbine and the combustor, wherein the fuel skid provides a flow path for the cooled reformed fuel from the second turbine to the combustor.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel supply in fluid communication with the fuel skid, wherein the fuel skid connects the fuel supply to the combustor. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the fuel skid connects the fuel supply to the reformer. 
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the fuel skid mixes the cooled reformed fuel with the fuel supply. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fuel skid provides a flow path for the cooled reformed fuel from the second turbine to a third gas turbine. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the cooled reformed fuel comprises at least 5% by volume hydrogen. 
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the reformer comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         8 . A system for providing hydrogen enriched fuel, comprising:
 a. a low pressure compressor, wherein the low pressure compressor produces a first compressed working fluid;   b. a combustor downstream of the low pressure compressor;   c. a low pressure turbine downstream of the combustor;   d. a high pressure compressor in fluid communication with the low pressure compressor, wherein the high pressure compressor receives a portion of the first compressed working fluid and produces a second compressed working fluid having a higher pressure than the first compressed working fluid;   e. a reformer downstream of the high pressure compressor, wherein the reformer receives the second compressed working fluid and produces a reformed fuel;   f. a high pressure turbine downstream of the reformer, wherein the high pressure turbine receives the reformed fuel and produces a cooled reformed fuel;   g. a first shaft connecting the high pressure turbine to the high pressure compressor and providing a driving engagement between the high pressure turbine and the high pressure compressor; and   h. a fuel skid in fluid communication with the high pressure turbine and the combustor, wherein the fuel skid provides a flow path for the cooled reformed fuel from the high pressure turbine to the combustor.   
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 8 , further including a second shaft connecting the low pressure turbine to the low pressure compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 9 , wherein the first shaft is substantially concentric with the second shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein the fuel skid connects a fuel supply to the combustor. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 11 , wherein the fuel skid mixes the cooled reformed fuel with the fuel supply. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein the fuel skid provides a flow path for the cooled reformed fuel from the high pressure turbine to a third gas turbine. 
     
     
         14 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein the cooled reformed fuel comprises at least 5% by volume hydrogen. 
     
     
         15 . The system as in  claim 8 , wherein the reformer comprises a catalyst. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing hydrogen enriched fuel, comprising:
 a. diverting a portion of a first compressed working fluid from a first compressor to a second compressor;   b. providing a second compressed working fluid from the second compressor;   c. mixing a fuel with the second compressed working fluid in a reformer to produce a reformed fuel;   d. flowing the reformed fuel through a second turbine to cool the reformed fuel; and   e. connecting the second turbine to the second compressor so that the second turbine drives the second compressor.   
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising flowing the cooled reformed fuel to a combustor. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising mixing the cooled reformed fuel with the fuel. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising mixing the fuel with the second compressed working fluid in the reformer at an equivalence ratio of at least approximately 2. 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 16 , further comprising providing the reformed fuel with greater than 5% by volume hydrogen.