The University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR) Program addresses scientific research to develop and transition advanced turbines and turbine-based systems that will operate cleanly and efficiently when fueled with coal-derived synthesis gas (syngas) and hydrogen fuels. This research focuses on the areas of combustion, aerodynamics/heat transfer, and materials, in support of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy’s Advanced Turbine Program goals.

These goals and the relevance of the research are advanced by the close interaction between participating universities and gas turbine manufactures and gas turbine users. UTSR also offers a Gas Turbine Industrial Fellowship program to recruit qualified university research students. This fellowship brings highly trained student researchers from the university to industrial gas turbine manufacturing environments. The UTSR Fellowship experience often results in the employment of highly trained professionals in the gas turbine industry working to continue the advancement of gas turbine technology.

The UTSR Program has evolved over time in response to power generation markets and DOE objectives. , Evolution of objectives has involved a transition from turbines operating on natural gas to coal derived syngas to very high hydrogen fuels derived from syngas. Since conceptually advanced turbines are fuel flexible this adaptation is possible. This fuel flexibility will also allow gas turbines to be used in integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) applications that are configured to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂). Future IGCC plants utilizing pre-combustion CO₂ will produce a high hydrogen content fuel for the gas turbine; the fuel will then be combusted in the turbine and the CO₂ will be permanently stored in the ground. The transition requires the development of low-emission turbine combustion technologies for this variety of fuels, improved turbine hot section flow path aero/heat transfer methods, and durable, low-cost materials for the stressing environment.

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