Rob Beschizza
Gear

Low-Emission Gas Turbine Tech Invented

Gas-burning turbines — an engine technology found in everything from tanks to ships and aiplanes — just got a whole lot cleaner, thanks to scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab and Solar Turbines Inc. Their invention, dubbed the “low-swirl injector,” cuts CO2 emissions and almost eliminates NOx output. Better still, existing turbines can be retrofitted […]

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Gas-burning turbines — an engine technology found in everything from tanks to ships and aiplanes — just got a whole lot cleaner, thanks to scientists at the Lawrence Berkeley Lab and Solar Turbines Inc. Their invention, dubbed the "low-swirl injector," cuts CO2 emissions and almost eliminates NOx output.

Better still, existing turbines can be retrofitted to use the injectors, which could lead to millions of tons of CO2 being throttled in the combustive crib. From Treehugger:

"The LSI works by imparting a slight spin to the gaseous fuel and air mixture placed in the gas turbine, causing it to spread out. This helps stabilize the flame used to heat the mixture and, more importantly, allows it to burn at lower temperatures. Since the production of NOx is highly temperature-dependent, the lower flame temperature drastically reduces the level of emissions produced. Natural gas-burning turbines equipped with the LSI emitted 2 ppm of NOx, more than 5 times less the amount emitted by conventional burners."

Unfortunately, such hard-core industrial technology isn't really appropriate for automobiles, but that's not stopped us from trying.

New Ultra-Low Emissions Combustion Technology Developed [Treehugger]