Simulation of biomass gasification in downdraft gasifier for different biomass fuels using ASPEN PLUS

Abstract

Biomass utilization through gasification could be a viable alternative energy source for meeting energy demands in decentralized manner. Thermodynamic equilibrium and other models have been proposed to explain and understand the complex biomass gasification process, design, simulation, optimization, and process analysis of gasifiers. Present paper deals with a comprehensive process model developed for biomass gasification in an atmospheric fixed bed rector using the ASPEN PLUS. The experimental facility of the gasifier developed by the authors has a provision for proper cooling and filtration system to derive satisfactory performance with low emissions. Thus the model developed using ASPEN PLUS is validated with experimental data obtained with four different types of feed stocks viz; babul wood, neem wood, mango wood, and bagasse. The model has well-predicted composition of H 2 , CO, and CO 2 whereas it has under predicted the CH 4 . The gasifier conversion efficiency was observed to be higher with babul wood when compared with other three types of wood due to its high carbon and H 2 and less ash concentrations.

Modelling of wood chips gasification process in ASPEN Plus with multiple validation approach

“…Advanced System for Process Engineering (ASPEN) is a software package that gives a complete integrated solution to chemical processes and reactors. Steady state ASPEN Plus simulator was developed to evaluate producer/syngas constituents [15]. After placing the blocks, models of specific process operations, on the flowsheet, the user is specifying material, inlet and outlet streams of the blocks.…”

Tri-generation System based on Municipal Waste Gasification, Fuel Cell and an Absorption Chiller

“…The gasifier is of the downdraft type, in isothermal, steady-state conditions and chemical reactions reach their equilibrium [18][19][20][21]. MSW at the ambient conditions (T = 15 °C and p = 1.013 bar), with a rate of = 130 kg/h after drying and moisture content 10% [22] enters a downdraft gasifier.…”

Validation and Application of a Kinetic Model for Downdraft Biomass Gasification Simulation

“…1 summarizes the experiments of downdraft gasifiers and the process simulations of several kinds of gasifiers in the last several decades. Among the process model simulations of gasifiers, a plenty of gasification models were developed based on the Gibbs energy minimization model [41][42][43][44]; only a few of them were formulated based on reaction kinetics. Most process model simulations were performed for fluidized-bed gasifiers [23,26,28,45].…”