Experimental and modeling studies of Portuguese peach stone gasification on an autothermal bubbling fluidized bed pilot plant

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) Vol. 142; pp. 862 - 877
• Main Authors: Monteiro, Eliseu, Ismail, Tamer M., Ramos, Ana, Abd El-Salam, M., Brito, Paulo, Rouboa, Abel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-01-2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Alternative energy; Biomass; Biomass energy production; Bubbling; Energy conversion efficiency; Energy efficiency; Equivalence ratio; Experimental biomass gasification; Flow rates; Fluidized beds; Gasification; Gasification modeling; Gasification simulation; Mass flow; Mathematical models; Moisture; Moisture content; Pilot plants; Producer gas; Steam; Two dimensional models; Water content; Gasification modeling; Experimental biomass gasification; Gasification simulation
• ISSN: 0360-5442; 1873-6785
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.10.100

Among the renewable energies available, biomass constitutes an auspicious option, due to its environmental-friendly character allied to its significant energy supply. As a path to maximize biomass energy efficiency, gasification has been reported as an adequate technology. Numerical models that can predict and optimize the experimental conditions as well as the equipment design for biomass gasification are imperative, towards a cost-saving and sustainable performance. This work shows the experimental and numerical results of thermal gasification of Portuguese peach stone. Assays were performed using a thermal gasification pilot plant with a bubbling fluidized bed at temperatures ranging from 750° C to 850° C with mass flow rates of 30 kg/h to 60 kg/h. A homemade comprehensive two-dimensional CFD model is proposed to optimize the operating conditions of the biomass gasification process. The numerical model results were compared with experimental data and good agreement was found. A parametric study was performed in order to understand the influence of moisture content, steam to biomass ratio and equivalence ratio in the composition of the producer gas. The results of the study showed a negative impact of moisture and equivalence ratio over conversion efficiency and producer gas quality, and a positive impact for steam to biomass ratio which promotes higher calorific values and overall efficiency for the process.
•Experimental evaluation of Portuguese peach stone gasification was conducted.•A homemade comprehensive CFD model for biomass gasification is proposed.•The model is capable of predicting the syngas composition under different conditions.•The effect of moisture, ER and SBR on peach stone gasification are studied.