Patent ID: 6109018
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: F01N,F02C,F05D,F23C,F23D,F23R,Y02T

Abstract:
A method for start-up of a gas turbine engine employing a hydrocarbonaceous fuel source and a monolithic catalyst structure in which at least an initial portion is electrically heated to supply combustion gas to the gas turbine which comprises, in sequential fashion, the steps of:a. applying electrical power to the electrically-heated portion of the catalyst structure to heat the catalyst structure to within about 100.degree. C. of the temperature obtained when the catalyst structure is combusting the fuel at steady-state conditions;b. contacting the preheated catalyst structure with a mixture of hydrocarbonaceous fuel and an oxygen-containing gas which will undergo essentially complete combustion at the steady-state conditions selected; andc. turning off the electrical power when the heat of reaction released by the reaction of the fuel and oxygen on the catalyst is sufficient to maintain the catalyst at steady-state conditions.