Paper details

Title:

Energy and Exergy Analysis of Biomass Gasification with Dried and Torrefied Willow as Feedstocks

Author(s):

Tapasvi, D., Kempegowda, R.S., Ertesvåg, I.S., Tran, K.-Q., Skreiberg, Ø.

Document(s):

Abstract:

Torrefaction is a mild­pyrolysis process that can be employed as a pre­treatment to improve fuel properties of biomass materials. A promising way to use torrefied biomass for production of heat, electricity, and other biofuels is through biomass gasification. Many studies have evaluated biomass behavior in a gasification process. However, similar evaluations for torrefied feedstocks are very limited and this forms the basis for this study. A simplified Aspen Plus model for the mixed air­steam gasification process based on chemical equilibrium considerations is presented to compare the behavior of raw and torrefied willow. The model includes the minimization of the Gibbs free energy of the produced gas, constrained by mass and energy balances for the system. An Excel spreadsheet was used to calculate the total exergy for each stream in the process, which is the main focus of this study. This article consists of three parts, of which the first focuses on the description of gasification process modeling and exergy analysis methodology. It is then followed by the exergy analysis of the selected gasification process. The aim of the second part is the evaluation of the system in terms of the exergetic efficiency and the irreversibilities associated with the sub­processes. Finally, the preliminary results and discussions along with recommendations for future work are provided.

Keywords:

biomass, efficiency, energy balance, gasification, torrefaction, willow

Topic:

Processes for Fuels from Biomass

Subtopic:

Torrefaction of biomass

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

VP3.2.4

Pages:

1995 - 2000

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP3.2.4

Price:

FREE