Process characterization and energy balance of air wood residues gasification using continuous operated pilot scale reactor

Abstract

This work aimed to study the effect of gasification process operating conditions on syngas composition and properties, and process efficiency. A rotary kiln gasifier lab-scale pilot plant with capacity ≅ 30 kg/h and a power of 30 kWe was used for gasification tests applied to cherry wood at different loads, for a temperature of about 600°C, while the air was used as gasification agent for all tests. The syngas composition was measured and analyzed. The results have shown that conversion of wood cherry through gasification lead to a lean fuel gas of 3.5 MJ/Nm3 and installation characteristics have a major influence both on process and syngas properties. This is happened because the rotary kiln gasifier allows some air infiltrations, and consequently a high N2 content in the syngas composition. The energy balance of the cherry biomass gasification processes was calculated. It was found also that gas density varies slightly from 1.26 to 1.43 kg/m3, while the specific heat of the gas varies from 1.04 to 1.34 kJ/kgK.