Title:
Energy Valorization of Solid Coffee Waste by Thermal Gasification in a Pilot Plant
Author(s):
Brito, P.S.D., Oliveira, A.S., Rodrigues, L.F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Rapid and continuous depletion of fossil fuels resources and increasing concerns with environmental issues determines the urgent need for alternative fuels, particularly biofuels obtained from biomasses of different origins. In fact, biomasses are among the most abundant energy renewable sources and can be obtained in high amounts by the use either of bioenergetic crops or forest and industrial biowastes. Thermal gasification of solid biomass appears to be a promising process for syngas production containing methane and hydrogen that can be used either as energy source or as row material for liquid fuels and other chemicals. Solid waste from coffee industry, namely coffee lees and husk, represent organic products with high potential in terms of economic recovery. In fact, several technological possibilities have been developed and implemented, over the past few decades, for the apreciation of organic industrial residues, and energy recovery seems to be most promising option. In this work the result of a study on the potential use of biomasses made of coffee industry residues as a source for syngas production by thermal gasification is presented. The study was performed in a pilot thermal gasification plant, installed at Portalegre’s Industrial Park, and that is based on fluidized bed technology, with a processing capacity of 23 kg/h, and operates at 800ºC. The gasification tests were performed continuously for several days, with pellets of coffee husks, in order to optimize the calorific power, and syngas and condensate compositions obtained. Results show that coffee residues biomasses have interesting features for use as syngas row-material.
Keywords:
fluidized bed, gasification, pilot plant, syngas, biofuels, coffee husks
Topic:
Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals
Subtopic:
Gasification for power, CHP and polygeneration
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP2.3.1
Pages:
1364 - 1366
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP2.3.1
Price:
FREE
