Modelling of biomass gasifier and microturbine for the olive oil industry

Abstract

SUMMARYThe olive oil industry generates several solid wastes. Among these residues are olive tree leaves, prunings, and dried olive pomace (orujillo) from the extraction process. These renewable energy sources can be used for heat and power production. The aim of this paper consists of modelling and simulation of a small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) plant (fuelled with olive industry wastes) incorporating a downdraft gasifier, gas cleaning and cooling subsystem, and a microturbine as the power generation unit. The gasifier was modelled with thermodynamic equilibrium calculations (fixed bed type, stratified and with an open top). This gasifier operates at atmospheric pressure with a reaction temperature about 8001C. Simulation results (biomass consumption, gasification efficiency, rated gas flow, calorific value, gas composition, etc.) are compared with a real gasification technology. The product gas obtained has a low heating value (4.8-5.0 MJ Nm À3) and the CHP system provides 30 kW e and 60 kW th . High system overall CHP efficiencies around 50% are achievable with such a system. The proposed system has been modelled using Cycle-Tempo software s .

Experimental and economic study of a gasification plant fuelled with olive industry wastes

“…Prior to this study, the authors presented the steady state performance parameters of different CHP technologies (MGT, EFGT and ICE) coupled to combustion or gasification processes (Vera et al, 2011(Vera et al, , 2012(Vera et al, , 2013. These works described the modeling and simulation approaches, but need to be validated in a real scenario (pilot plant or prototype).…”

Probabilistic Load-Flow Analysis of Biomass-Fuelled Gas Engines with Electrical Vehicles in Distribution Systems

“…The statistical data of the higher HV of the biomass was found in [51,52]. References [10,72,73] provide more information on BFGE global efficiency which ranges between 0.16 and 0.25 p.u. Our study used the 0.20-p.u.…”

“…The three major olive oil producers are Spain, Italy, and Greece [9,10]. Olive tree pruning residues are an autochthonous renewable energy source that farmers generally dispose of by burning.…”

A New Model of Energy Valorization for Olive Grove By-Products Based on the Gasification Technology Integrated in an Olive-Oil Mill

“…The composition of this syngas varies with the characteristics of fuel, gasifying agent, and the conditions of the process, although one of the most influential parameters in the process is the biomass humidity, therefore the higher the humidity, the more gasifying agent because the water has to be heated and evaporated. The calorific value of gas is usually low, between an interval of 4500 and 5600 kJ/m 3 (Vera et al 2012). In general, the gasification can be classified depending on the kind of reactor (fixed or mobile bed, counter-current-"up draft" or cocurrent-"down draft," fluidized bedbubbling or circulating), the pressure work (atmospheric or pressure), and the gas cleaning system (conventional, filtering at high temperature, catalytic, .…”