Comparative Thermodynamic and Environmental Performance of the Solar Titan 130 Gas Turbine Operating on Natural Gas and a Hydrogen-Enriched (20%) Fuel Blend

The integration of hydrogen into natural-gas-fired gas turbines represents a promising transitional pathway for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in industrial power generation. This study presents a comparative thermodynamic and environmental assessment of a Solar Titan 130 gas turbine operating in combined heat and power (CHP) mode under two fueling conditions: conventional natural gas and a hydrogen-enriched CH4/H2 (80/20 vol.%) blend. The analysis combines validated operational data for natural gas with analytical thermodynamic modeling for the blended-fuel scenario to evaluate key performance indicators, including thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, power output, and carbon dioxide emissions. The results indicate that hydrogen enrichment leads to an increase in thermal efficiency from 34.1% to 36.6% and a reduction in specific CO2 emissions by approximately 13.7%, while maintaining similar thermal input within the adopted steady-state modeling framework. Compressor power consumption decreases, and net electrical output increases slightly under hydrogen-enriched operation, contributing to improved overall energy performance. Although the hydrogen-blended regime is assessed through modeling, the findings suggest that moderate hydrogen addition can enhance efficiency and environmental performance in industrial gas turbines without fundamental structural redesign of the turbine core, assuming appropriate fuel supply and control system adaptation. The study provides practical insights into the feasibility of hydrogen-assisted operation in existing CHP installations and supports its role in near-term decarbonization strategies.