Effect of steam injection location on syngas obtained from an air–steam gasifier

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 116; pp. 388 - 394
• Main Authors: Sharma, Ashokkumar M., Kumar, Ajay, Huhnke, Raymond L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomass; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; Fluidized-bed gasifier; Fuels; Natural energy; Steam port location; Syngas; Steam port location; Biomass; Fluidized-bed gasifier; Syngas; Monocotyledones; Air quality; Water vapor; Synthesis gas; Panicum virgatum; Energy crop; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Gasification; Height; Hot gas; Steam injection
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2013.08.026

•Studied effects of steam injection location and steam-to-biomass ratio (SBR).•A lab-scale autothermal air–steam fluidized-bed gasifier was used for the study.•Steam injection location and SBR had significant effects on H2 and CO yields.•Steam injection location had significant effects on the gasifier efficiencies.•The best syngas yield was at the steam injection location of 254mm and SBR of 0.2.
For a fluidized-bed gasifier, reaction conditions vary along the height of the reactor. Hence, the steam injection location may have a considerable effect on the syngas quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of steam injection location and steam-to-biomass ratio (SBR) on the syngas quality generated from an air–steam gasification of switchgrass in a 2–5kg/h autothermal fluidized-bed gasifier. Steam injection locations of 51, 152, and 254mm above the distributor plate and SBRs of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 were selected. Results showed that the syngas H2 and CO yields were significantly influenced by the steam injection location (p<0.01) and SBR (p<0.05). The steam injection location also significantly influenced hot and cold gas, as well as carbon conversion efficiencies. The best syngas yields (0.018kg H2/kg biomass and 0.513kg CO/kg biomass) and gasifier efficiencies (cold gas efficiency of 67%, hot gas efficiency of 72%, and carbon conversion efficiency of 96%) were at the steam injection location of 254mm and SBR of 0.2.