Exergy analysis of updraft and downdraft fixed bed gasification of village-level solid waste

The most commonly used for gasification of village-level solid waste is the fixed-bed gasifier, but there is no reasonable method to evaluate the gasification process. This paper attempts to find a gasifier that is most suitable for gasification of village-level solid wastes through exergy analysis method. Based on experimental data from literature, the exergy efficiencies and LHV(Low Heat Value) of product gas from updraft and downdraft fixed bed gasifier are studied in this paper. The results show that the updraft fixed bed gasifier has higher exergy efficiency, and the gas produced by the downdraft fixed bed gasifier has a higher heating value. Air gasification has higher exergy efficiency than steam gasification and pure oxygen gasification. The highest exergy efficiency at a gasification temperature of about 1000 °C and ER (Equivalence Ratio) value in the range of 0.33–0.36. The volatile content of gasification raw materials is higher, and the gasification efficiency is higher. Through the research of this paper, a new path to reasonably evaluate the gasification process is obtained.     

Effect of the type of gasifying agent on gas composition in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor

It is commonly accepted that gasification of coal has a high potential for a more sustainable and clean way of coal utilization. In recent years, research and development in coal gasification areas are mainly focused on the synthetic raw gas production, raw gas cleaning and, utilization of synthesis gas for different areas such as electricity, liquid fuels and chemicals productions within the concept of poly-generation applications. The most important parameter in the design phase of the gasification process is the quality of the synthetic raw gas that depends on various parameters such as gasifier reactor itself, type of gasification agent and operational conditions. In this work, coal gasification has been investigated in a laboratory scale atmospheric pressure bubbling fluidized bed reactor, with a focus on the influence of the gasification agents on the gas composition in the synthesis raw gas. Several tests were performed at continuous coal feeding of several kg/h. Gas quality (contents in H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, O₂) was analyzed by using online gas analyzer through experiments. Coal was crushed to a size below 1 mm. It was found that the gas produced through experiments had a maximum energy content of 5.28 MJ/Nm³ at a bed temperature of approximately 800 °C, with the equivalence ratio at 0.23 based on air as a gasification agent for the coal feedstock. Furthermore, with the addition of steam, the yield of hydrogen increases in the synthesis gas with respect to the water–gas shift reaction. It was also found that the gas produced through experiments had a maximum energy content of 9.21 MJ/Nm³ at a bed temperature range of approximately 800–950 °C, with the equivalence ratio at 0.21 based on steam and oxygen mixtures as gasification agents for the coal feedstock. The influence of gasification agents, operational conditions of gasifier, etc. on the quality of synthetic raw gas, gas production efficiency of gasifier and coal conversion ratio are discussed in details.     

A numerical model of a fluidized bed biomass gasifier

A one-dimensional, steady state, numerical model was developed for a fluidized bed biomass gasifier. The gasifier model consists of a fuel pyrolysis model, an oxidation model, a gasification model and a freeboard model. Given the bed temperature, ambient air flow rate and humidity ratio, fuel moisture content and reactor parameters, the model predicts the fuel feed rate for steady state operation, composition of the producer gas and fuel energy conversion. The gasifier model was validated with experimental results. The effects of major mechanisms (fuel pyrolysis and the chemical and the physical rate processes) were assessed in a sensitivity study of the gasification model. A parametric study was also conducted for the gasifier model. It is concluded that the model can be used for gasifier performance analysis.     

Gasification of preheated coal: Experiment and thermodynamic equilibrium calculation

A new process integrating a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor and an entrained bed reactor was proposed for gasification of preheated coal. The CFB reactor as a preheater was successfully used in clean coal combustion. In this study, gasification of preheated coal was tested in a bench-scale test rig, which consisted of a CFB preheater and a down flow bed (DFB) gasifier. The effects of operating parameters of the preheater and gasifier were revealed via thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. A stable preheating process was obtained in the CFB preheater at the O₂/C molar ratio of 0.31 and higher gasification reactivity was gained in preheated char owing to the improvement in intrinsic reactivity, specific surface area and total pore volume. Effective gasification of preheated char was achieved in the DFB gasifier at 1100 °C and the total O₂/C molar ratio of 0.67, meanwhile the CO + H₂ yield and carbon conversion increased. Thermodynamic equilibrium calculations revealed when the gasification reaction rates varied little above 1100 °C and the same carbon conversion was achieve in gasifier, lowering the temperature would lead to an increase in cold gas efficiency and a decrease in O₂ demand.     

Feasibility study of cashew nut shells as an open core gasifier feedstock

This paper present the results of investigation carried out in studying the fuel properties of cashew nut shell and its gasification feasibility for open core down draft gasifier. Cashew nut shell was converted to producer gas in an open core down draft gasifier whose performance was evaluated in terms of fuel consumption rate, calorific value of producer gas and gasification efficiency at different gas flow rates. It was found that producer gas calorific value and volumetric percentage of its combustible constituents, along with gasification efficiency, in general, increased with the increase in gas flow rate. The maximum gasification efficiency was found to be 70% at a gas flow rate of 130 m³ h⁻¹ and specific gasification rate of 167 kg h⁻¹m⁻². Studies revealed that cashew nut shells could successfully be used as feedstock for open core down draft gasifier.     

Performance evaluation of an innovative 100 kWth dual bubbling fluidized bed gasifier through two years of experimental tests: Results of the BLAZE project

In this work, the results of two years of experimental tests on an innovative dual bubbling fluidized bed gasifier are reported. These are related to the activities of the BLAZE project (Horizon 2020) for the integration of steam biomass gasification and solid oxide fuel cell. Several tests were carried out on the pilot-scale reactor at various operating conditions, and in this work the results are reported in terms of dry gas composition and yield, organic and inorganic contaminants (tar, particulate matter, H₂S). The compact design of the gasifier (a single reactor with two concentric chambers and in-situ hot gas cleaning and conditioning) reduces the heat losses and produces close to nitrogen-free syngas. Preliminary tests using a filter candle filled with conventional catalyst, installed in the freeboard of the gasifier, show that the tar content dropped to about 2 g/Nm³, and the H₂ concentration increased up to 41%_vol,dry.     

Feasibility study of Jatropha seed husk as an open core gasifier feedstock

This paper presents the results of investigation carried out in studying the fuel properties of Jatropha seed husk and its gasification feasibility for open core down draft gasifier. Jatropha seed husk was converted to producer gas in an open core down draft gasifier whose performance was evaluated in terms of fuel consumption rate, calorific value of producer gas and gasification efficiency at different gas flow rates. It was found that producer gas calorific value and concentration of CO, along with gasification efficiency, in general, increased with the increase in gas flow rate. The maximum gasification efficiency was found to be 68.31% at a gas flow rate of 5.5 m³ h⁻¹ and specific gasification rate of 270 kg h⁻¹ m⁻². Studies revealed that Jatropha seed husk could successfully be used as feedstock for open core down draft gasifier.     

生物质气化原理及设备浅析

生物质作为一种可再生的洁净能源,其气化技术得到大力发展。本文对生物质气化的基本原理及气化工艺类型进行了简要介绍,同时阐述了主要气化炉类型的工作原理及优缺点,如固定床原料适应性广,但难以大型化,流化床气化效率高但结构复杂;并对气化炉的特性进行浅析,对生物质气化工程的设计及运行具有指导意义。     

Effect of design and operating parameters on the gasification process of biomass in a downdraft fixed bed: An experimental study

The main objective of this paper is to study the effect of design and operating parameters, mainly reactor geometry, equivalence ratio and biomass feeding rate, on the performance of the gasification process of biomass in a three air stage continuous fixed bed downdraft reactor. The gasification of corn straw was carried out in the gasifier under atmospheric pressure, using air as gasifying agent. The results demonstrated that due to the three stage of air supply, a high and uniform temperature was achieved in the oxidation and reduction zones for better tar cracking. The designing of both the air supply system and rotating grate avoided bridging and channeling. The gas composition and tar yield were affected by the parameters including equivalence ratio (ER) and biomass feeding rate. When biomass feeding rate was 7.5 kg/h and ER was 0.25–0.27, the product gas of the gasifier attained a good condition with lower heating value (LHV) about 5400 kJ/m³ and cold gas efficiency about 65%. An increase in equivalence ratio led to higher temperature which in turn resulted in lower tar yield which was only 0.52 g/Nm³ at ER = 0.32. Increasing biomass feeding rate led to higher biomass consumption rate and process temperature. However, excessively high feeding rate was unbeneficial for biomass gasification cracking and reforming reactions, which led to a decrease in H₂ and CO concentrations and an increase in tar yield. When ER was 0.27, with an increase of biomass feeding rate from 5.8 kg/h to 9.3 kg/h, the lower heating value decreased from 5455.5 kJ/Nm³ to 5253.2 kJ/Nm³ and tar yield increased from 0.82 g/Nm³ to 2.78 g/Nm³.     

The development of a real-time thermogravimetric analyzer on the gasification of pine sawdust in a simulated fluidized bed gasifier

In this study, a real-time thermogravimetric analyzer was developed for providing insight into the reactivity and gasification process of pine sawdust. The mass loss rate of pine sawdust, syngas composition, and tar compounds in the gasification process were analyzed at different gasification conditions. According to the real-time thermogravimetric analysis, 800°C of the gasification temperature, 0.25 of the equivalence ratio, and 600 kg/(m²·h) of the gasification throughput were regarded as an optimum conditions for the gasification of pine sawdust in a fluidized bed gasifier.     

Theoretical and experimental investigation of biomass gasification process in a fixed bed gasifier

This investigation concerns the process of air biomass gasification in a fixed bed gasifier. Theoretical equilibrium calculations and experimental investigation of the composition of syngas were carried out and compared with findings of other researchers. The influence of excess air ratio (λ) and parameters of biomass on the composition of syngas were investigated. A theoretical model is proposed, based on the equilibrium and thermodynamic balance of the gasification zone.The experimental investigation was carried out at a setup that consists of a gasifier connected by a pipe with a water boiler fired with coal (50 kWth). Syngas obtained in the gasifier is supplied into the coal firing zone of the boiler, and co-combusted with coal. The moisture content in biomass and excess air ratio of the gasification process are crucial parameters, determining the composition of syngas. Another important parameter is the kind of applied biomass. Despite similar compositions and dimensions of the two investigated feedstocks (wood pellets and oats husk pellets), compositions of syngas obtained in the case of these fuels were different. On the basis of tests it may be stated that oats husk pellets are not a suitable fuel for the purpose of gasification.     

Results with a bench scale downdraft biomass gasifier for agricultural and forestry residues

A small scale fixed bed downdraft gasifier system to be fed with agricultural and forestry residues has been designed and constructed. The downdraft gasifier has four consecutive reaction zones from the top to the bottom, namely drying, pyrolysis, oxidation and reduction zones. Both the biomass fuel and the gases move in the same direction. A throat has been incorporated into the design to achieve gasification with lower tar production. The experimental system consists of the downdraft gasifier and the gas cleaning unit made up by a cyclone, a scrubber and a filter box. A pilot burner is utilized for initial ignition of the biomass fuel. The product gases are combusted in the flare built up as part of the gasification system. The gasification medium is air. The air to fuel ratio is adjusted to produce a gas with acceptably high heating value and low pollutants. Within this frame, different types of biomass, namely wood chips, barks, olive pomace and hazelnut shells are to be processed. The developed downdraft gasifier appears to handle the investigated biomass sources in a technically and environmentally feasible manner. This paper summarizes selected design related issues along with the results obtained with wood chips and hazelnut shells.     

Biomass gasification in a 100 kWth steam-oxygen blown circulating fluidized bed gasifier: Effects of operational conditions on product gas distribution and tar formation

Biomass gasification is one of the most promising technologies for converting biomass, a renewable source, into an easily transportable and usable fuel. Two woody biomass fuels Agrol and willow, and one agriculture residue Dry Distiller’s Grains with Solubles (DDGS), have been tested using an atmospheric pressure 100 kWth steam-oxygen blown circulating fluidized bed gasifier (CFB). The effects of operational conditions (e.g. steam to biomass ratio (SBR), oxygen to biomass stoichiometric ratio (ER) and gasification temperature) and bed materials on the composition distribution of the product gas and tar formation from these fuels were investigated. Experimental results show that there is a significant variation in the composition of the product gas produced. Among all the experiments, the averaged concentration of H₂ obtained from Agrol, willow and DDGS over the temperature range from 800 to 820 °C was around 24 vol.%, 28 vol.% and 20 vol.% on a N₂ free basis, respectively. A fairly high amount of H₂S (∼2300 ppmv), COS (∼200 ppmv) and trace amounts of methyl mercaptan (<3 ppmv) on a N₂ free basis were obtained from DDGS. Due to a relatively high content of K and Cl in DDGS fuel, an alkali-getter (e.g. kaolin) was added to avoid agglomeration during gasification. Higher temperatures and SBR values were favorable for increasing the mole ratio of H₂ to CO and the tar decomposition but less advantageous for the formation of CH₄. Meanwhile, higher temperatures and SBR values also led to higher gas yields, whereas a higher SBR caused a lower carbon conversion efficiency (CCE%), cold gas efficiency (CGE%) and heating values of the product gas due to a high steam content in the product gas. From solid phase adsorption (SPA) results, the total tar content obtained from Agrol was the highest at around 12.4 g/Nm³, followed by that from DDGS and willow gasification. The lowest tar content produced from Agrol, willow and DDGS using Austrian olivine (Bed 1) as bed materials was 5.7, 4.4 and 7.3 g/Nm³, values which were obtained at a temperature of 730, 820 and 730 °C, SBR of 1.52, 1.14 and 1.10, and ER of 0.36, 0.39 and 0.37, respectively.     

A comprehensive two dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics model for an updraft biomass gasifier

This study focuses on developing a dynamic two dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of a moving bed updraft biomass gasifier. The model uses inlet air at room temperature as the gasifying medium and a fixed batch of biomass. The biomass batch is initially ignited by a heat source which is removed after a certain amount of time. This model operates by the heat emitted by combustion reactions, until the fuel is finished. Since the operation is batch wise, model is transient and takes into consideration the effect of bed movement as a result of shrinkage. The CFD model is capable of simulating the movement of interface between solid packed bed and gas free board and this motion is also presented. The model is validated by comparing the simulation results with experimental data obtained from a laboratory scale updraft gasifier operated in batch mode with Gliricidia. The developed model is used to find the optimum air flow rate that maximizes the cumulative CO production. It is found that from the simulation study for the particular experimental gasifier, a flow rate of 7 m³/h maximizes the CO production. The maximum cumulative CO production was 6.4 m³ for a 28 kg batch of Gliricidia.     

Hydrogen-rich gas production from biomass air and oxygen/steam gasification in a downdraft gasifier

Biomass gasification is an important method to obtain renewable hydrogen. However, this technology still stagnates in a laboratory scale because of its high-energy consumption. In order to get maximum hydrogen yield and decrease energy consumption, this study applies a self-heated downdraft gasifier as the reactor and uses char as the catalyst to study the characteristics of hydrogen production from biomass gasification. Air and oxygen/steam are utilized as the gasifying agents. The experimental results indicate that compared to biomass air gasification, biomass oxygen/steam gasification improves hydrogen yield depending on the volume of downdraft gasifier, and also nearly doubles the heating value of fuel gas. The maximum lower heating value of fuel gas reaches 11.11 MJ/N m³ for biomass oxygen/steam gasification. Over the ranges of operating conditions examined, the maximum hydrogen yield reaches 45.16 g H₂/kg biomass. For biomass oxygen/steam gasification, the content of H₂ and CO reaches 63.27–72.56%, while the content of H₂ and CO gets to 52.19–63.31% for biomass air gasification. The ratio of H₂/CO for biomass oxygen/steam gasification reaches 0.70–0.90, which is lower than that of biomass air gasification, 1.06–1.27. The experimental and comparison results prove that biomass oxygen/steam gasification in a downdraft gasifier is an effective, relatively low energy consumption technology for hydrogen-rich gas production.     

An experimental study on air gasification of biomass micron fuel (BMF) in a cyclone gasifier

Biomass micron fuel (BMF) produced from feedstock (energy crops, agricultural wastes, forestry residues and so on) through an efficient crushing process is a kind of powdery biomass fuel with particle size of less than 250 μm. Based on the properties of BMF, a cyclone gasifier concept has been considered in our laboratory for biomass gasification. The concept combines and integrates partial oxidation, fast pyrolysis, gasification, and tar cracking, as well as a shift reaction, with the purpose of producing a high quality of gas. In this paper, characteristics of BMF air gasification were studied in the gasifier. Without outer heat energy input, the whole process is supplied with energy produced by partial combustion of BMF in the gasifier using a hypostoichiometric amount of air. The effects of equivalence ratio (ER) and biomass particle size on gasification temperature, gas composition, gas yield, low-heating value (LHV), carbon conversion and gasification efficiency were studied. The results showed that higher ER led to higher gasification temperature and contributed to high H₂-content, but too high ER lowered fuel gas content and degraded fuel gas quality. A smaller particle was more favorable for higher gas yield, LHV, carbon conversion and gasification efficiency. And the BMF air gasification in the cyclone gasifier with the energy self-sufficiency is reliable.     

Steam catalytic gasification of municipal solid waste for producing tar-free fuel gas

In the paper, a two-region municipal solid waste (MSW) steam catalytic gasification process was proposed. The gasifier was composed of two individual reactors: one is the gasification reactors and the other is the catalytic reactor. The MSW was initially gasified and the produced tar was gasified in the gasification reactor, and further, the tar not gasified entered the catalytic reactor together with the fuel gas and was catalytically decomposed to fuel gas. The influences of the catalysts, steam and temperature on the content of tar, dry gas yield and composition, and carbon conversion efficiency were studied. The results indicated that under the optimum operating conditions, the dry gas yield can be up to 1.97 Nm³/kg MSW and the tar in the product can be completely eliminated. The concentration of hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane in the fuel gas produced was 50.8%, 9.32% and 13.3%, respectively.     

Gasification of hazelnut shells in a downdraft gasifier

The potential offered by biomass to reduce greenhouse gas production is now being more widely recognised. The energy in biomass may be realised either by direct combustion use, or by upgrading into more valuable and useable products such as gas, fuel oil and higher value products for utilisation in the chemical industry or for clean power generation. Up till now, gasification work has concentrated on woody biomass but recently sources of other biomass with large energy production potential have been identified, namely hazelnut shells. Therefore, a pilot scale downdraft gasifier is used to investigate gasification potential of hazelnut shells. A full mass balance is reported including the tar production rate as well as the composition of the produced gas as a function of feed rate. Additionally, the effect of feed rate on the CV/composition of the product gas and the associated variations of gasifier zone temperatures are determined with temperatures recorded throughout the main zones of the gasifier and also at the gasifier outlet and gas cleaning zones. Pressure drops are also measured across the gasifier and gas cleaning system because the produced gas may be used in conjunction with a power production engine when it is important to have low pressure drop in the system. The quality of the product gas is found to be dependent on the smooth flow of the fuel and the uniformity of the pyrolysis, and so the difficulties, encountered during the experiments are detailed. The optimum operation of the gasifier is found to be between 1.44 and 1.47 N m³/kg of air fuel ratios at the values of 4.06 and 4.48 kg/h of wet feed rate which produces the producer gas with a good GCV of about 5 MJ/m³ at a volumetric flow of 8–9 N m³/h product gas. It was concluded that hazelnut shells could be easily gasified in a downdraft gasifier to produce good quality gas with minimum polluting by-products. It is suggested that, in view of ease of operation, small-scale gasifiers can make an important contribution to the economy of rural areas where the residues of nuts are abundant. It is also suggested that gasification of shell waste products is a clean alternative to fossil fuels and the product gas can be directly used in internal gas combustion engines, thus warranting further investment/encouragement by authorities to exploit this valuable resource.     

Bench-scale bubbling fluidized bed systems around the world - Bed agglomeration and collapse: A comprehensive review

Thermochemical conversion by gasification process is one of the most relevant technologies for energy recovery from solid fuel, with an energy conversion efficiency better than other alternatives like combustion and pyrolysis. Nevertheless, the most common technology used in the last decades for thermochemical conversion of solid fuel through gasification process, such as coal, agriculture residues or biomass residues are the fluidized bed or bubbling fluidized bed system. For these gasification technologies, an inert bed material is fed into reactor to improve the homogenization of the particles mixture and increase the heat transfer between solid fuel particles and the bed material. The fluidized bed reactors usually operate at isothermal bed temperatures in the range of 700–1000 °C, providing a suitable contact between solid and gas phases. In this way, chemical reactions with high conversion yield, as well as an intense circulation and mixing of the solid particles are encouraged. Moreover, a high gasification temperature favours carbon conversion efficiency, increasing the syngas production and energy performance of the gasifier. However, the risk of eutectic mixtures formation and its subsequent melting process are increased, and hence the probability of bed agglomeration and the system collapse could be increased, mainly when alkali and alkaline earth metals-rich biomasses are considered. Generally, bed agglomeration occurs when biomass-derived ash reacts with bed material, and the lower melting temperature of ash components promotes the formation of highly viscous layers, which encourages the progressive agglomerates creation, and consequently, the bed collapse and system de-fluidization. Taking into account the relevance of this topic to ensure the normal gasification process operating, this paper provides several aspects about bed agglomeration, mostly for biomass gasification systems. In this way, chemistry and mechanism of bed agglomeration, as well as, some methods for in-situ detection and prediction of the bed agglomeration phenomenon are reviewed and discussed.     

Comparison of green waste gasification performance in updraft and downdraft fixed bed gasifiers

This study aimed to investigate the gasification potential of municipal green waste in different fixed-bed gasifier configurations as updraft and downdraft. Both reactor systems were constructed from stainless-steel with a cyclone separator to increase synthesis gas yield and reduce tar production. Green waste collected from parks and gardens by Manisa Metropolitan Municipality, Turkey, was used in the experiments. After full-characterization of green waste, gasification experiments were performed above 700 °C to produce syngas with more than 40% (volumetric) H₂ and heating value around 12.54 MJ/Nm³. Dry air (DA) and pure oxygen (PO) were used as gasification agents. DA was applied with the flow-rates ranged between 0.4 and 0.05 L/min while the flow-rate of PO was 0.01 L/min. The maximum H₂ production as 45 vol% was obtained in downdraft reactor while it was about 51 vol% in updraft system. CH₄ production was obtained as higher value (app. 19 vol%) in downdraft reactor than that (13 vol%) in the updraft one. In the experiments with DA above 700 °C, the H₂/CO ratio varied between 1 and 3, and in the experiments with PO, it increased up to a maximum value of 4. The study has found a suitable set of gasification process parameters for two reactor systems. Therefore, the findings have been compared and discussed in detail.