Simulation of Biomass Gasification with Oxygen/Air as Gasifying Agent by ASPEN Plus

Abstract

In today`s scenario of depleting conventional fossil fuels biomass provides an alternate source of energy. Gasification is a chemical process that converts carbonaceous materials like biomass into useful convenient gaseous fuels or chemical feedstock. The gasification process uses an agent air or oxygen, hydrogen or steam to convert carbonaceous materials into gaseous products. As air gasification produces poor quality syngas, oxygen is used as gasifying agent for biomass gasification. Biomass gasification with oxygen as gasifying agent has great potential in applications like IGCC (Integrated Gasification combined cycle), Chemical Production and Fischer-tropsch products. In this paper the simulation model of a biomass gasifier for different biomass like charcoal, rice husk and wood pellets with oxygen and air as a gasifying agent is developed using ASPEN Plus. The model predicts syngas composition, heating value, temperature, pressure and quantity of gas produced. These results are obtained for various feedstocks like wood pallets, rice husk, and Indian coal on the basis of proximate and ultimate analysis.