Paper details

Title:

Prediction of Producer Gas Composition for Small Commercial Downdraft Gasifier

Author(s):

Roesch, H., Dascomb, J., Greska, B., Krothapalli, A.

Document(s):

Abstract:

The goal of this study was to produce a model predicting the composition and heating value of producer gas made from a small scale (20­250 kWth), down­draft gasifier. Due the non­ideal conditions in this type of gasifier, classical thermodynamic equilibrium models are inaccurate. A more reliable prediction model for gas produced in a system of this size and type is needed. Eight biomass feedstocks were gasified and analyzed for this study. The pelletized feedstocks chosen were; alfalfa, algae, field grass, hemp, miscanthus, peanut shells, pine, and municipal solid waste. The feedstocks were chosen for their wide ranging availability and low costs. The commercial downdraft gasifier used was an Ankur Scientific WBG­20. This air­fed gasifier is capable of producing synthesis gas at a rate of up to 60 Nm3/hr (50 kWth). Each feedstock was first characterized by proximate and ultimate analysis, and then the synthesis gas was analyzed by gas chromatography. The large variation of reaction temperatures and equivalence ratios occurring in the economic downdraft gasifier reduced the accuracy of the conventional thermodynamic equilibrium simulation. The synthesis gas produced in these tests was used to create a more applicable model for estimating composition and heating value for this type of system. The model developed from these tests estimates the heating value of the synthesis gas produced from the ultimate and proximate analysis of the feedstock with an average error of 5% over all feedstocks tested.

Keywords:

feedstock, gasification, model, syngas

Topic:

Biomass Conversion Technologies for Heating, Electricity and Chemicals                  

Subtopic:

Gasification for synthesis gas production

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

VP2.4.19

Pages:

1594 - 1601

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP2.4.19

Price:

FREE