System and methods for igniting and operating a gas turbine engine with alternative fuels

A method of generating power using a power generation system, the power generation system configured to generate power using only an alternative fuel, wherein the alternative fuel is at least one of a liquid alternative fuel and a vapor alternative fuel, the power generation system comprising:

• a gas turbine engine comprising a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine, the combustor configured to be ignited and operated using only the alternative fuel;
• a storage and distribution system configured to store the alternative fuel, wherein the alternative fuel does not comprise a fossil fuel;
• a liquid supply system coupled to the storage and distribution system to receive liquid alternative fuel from the storage and distribution system, the liquid supply system comprising:
• a first pump positioned to direct the liquid alternative fuel through a first conduit to the combustor;
• a first flow control device coupled to the first conduit for controlling a flow rate of the liquid alternative fuel therethrough;
• and
• a fuel nozzle within the combustor to atomize the liquid alternative fuel;
• and
• a vapor supply system coupled to the storage and distribution system and configured to generate a vapor alternative fuel by vaporizing liquid alternative fuel received from the storage and distribution system, the vapor supply system comprising:
• a vaporization system comprising at least one heat exchanger for vaporizing the liquid alternative fuel;
• a second pump positioned to direct the vapor alternative fuel through a second conduit to the combustor;
• and
• a second flow control device coupled to the second conduit for controlling a flow rate of the vapor alternative fuel therethrough,
• wherein the combustor is configured to achieve ignition using the liquid alternative fuel supplied from the liquid supply system,
• wherein the first flow control device and the second flow control device are controllable such that, after ignition, the first flow control device reduces a volume of the liquid alternative fuel delivered to the combustor while the second flow control device increases a volume of the vapor alternative fuel delivered to the combustor, and
• wherein the combustor is configured to be operated, subsequent to ignition, by combusting only vapor alternative fuel channeled from the vapor supply system, wherein said method comprises:
• channeling liquid alternative fuel through the first conduit from the liquid supply system to the combustor using the first pump and the first flow control device;
• atomizing the liquid alternative fuel and injecting the atomized liquid alternative fuel in the combustor;
• igniting the combustor using only the liquid alternative fuel supplied from the liquid supply system by combusting the liquid alternative fuel to generate power and exhaust gases;
• channeling exhaust gases from the combustor to a heat recovery steam generator;
• heating a heat exchange medium within the heat recovery steam generator using the exhaust gases;
• channeling the heat exchange medium from the heat recovery steam generator to the vapor supply system;
• vaporizing liquid alternative fuel received from the storage and distribution system using the heat exchange medium to generate the vapor alternative fuel;
• channeling the vapor alternative fuel through the second conduit to the combustor using the second pump and the second flow control device;
• and
• reducing a volume of the liquid alternative fuel delivered to the combustor and increasing a volume of the vapor alternative fuel, wherein the combustor is operated, subsequent to ignition, by combusting only the vapor alternative fuel.