BIOMASS GASIFICATION

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LECTURE-17
GASIFICATION
Gasification process is a process of
conversion of solid fuel into gaseous
fuel for wide applications.

It produces gaseous fuels like

H2,CO,CH4,N2 of low calorific
value.

Biomass Gasification converts

biomass into electricity and
products, such as ethanol, methanol,
fuels, fertilizers, and chemicals.

In this operation feedstock is heated

to high temperatures, producing
gases which can undergo chemical
reactions to form a synthesis gas.
CONT…
Biomass is heated with no oxygen or only about one-third oxygen n
for efficient combustion, it gasifies to a mixture of carbon monoxide
and hydrogen—synthesis gas or syngas that has an energy content of
5 to 20 MJ/Nm3 (depending on the type of biomass and whether
gasification is conducted with air, oxygen or through indirect
heating).
This energy content is roughly 10 to 45% of the heating value of
natural.
This whole process completed at elevated temperature range of 800–
1300 ◦C with series of chemical reaction that is why it come under
thermo chemical conversion.
GASIFICATION PROCESS
 During gasification, the material is heated to a high
temp,Which causes a series of physical and chemical
changes that result in evolution of volatile products and solid
residues.
 The amount of volatile products and their compositions
depend on:
i) The reactor temp.
ii) Type of fuel material.
iii) Characteristics of fuel material.
CONT…
Gasification is made up for five discrete thermal processes:
i) Drying: The fuel wood pellets are heated and dried at the top of the
gasifier unit. Moisture contained in the wood pellets is removed in
this region to a level below 20%.
ii) Pyrolysis: The dried wood pellets enter the second zone called the
“Pyrolysis” zone. In this process gaseous products from
devolatilization are partially burnt with the existing air.
iii) Combustion: In the combustion zone the outputs from the above
zone, react with the remaining char in the absence of oxygen at a
temperature of around 800-900 °C.
iv) Cracking: In this zone Tar is breakdown into H2,CO and
flammable gases by exposure to high temp.
v) Reduction: In this region the hot gases formed in the above process
is converted in to “Producer Gas” by the endothermic reactions
REACTIONSINVOLVED IN GASIFICATION

Combustion zone

C + O2 CO2 + 393 MJ/kg mole

2H2 + O2 2H2O - 242 MJ/kg mole

Reaction zone

C + CO2 2CO2 - 164.9 MJ/kg mole

C + H2O CO + H2 - 122.6 MJ/kg mole

CO + H2O CO + H2 +42 MJ/kg mole

C + 2H2 CH4 + 75 MJ/kg mole

PRODUCER GAS

LECTURE -18
 Pro Produceducer gas
Producer gas is fuel gas that is manufactured from material such as coal, as
opposed to natural gas. It can be produced from various fuels by partial
combustion with air, usually modified by simultaneous injection of water or
steam to maintain a constant temperature and obtain a higher heat content gas
by enrichment of air gas with hydrogen.
. Air is passed over the red-hot carbonaceous fuel and carbon monoxide is
produced. The reaction is exothermic and proceeds as follows:

Formation of producer gas from air and carbon:

C + O2 → CO2, +97,600 calories
CO2 + C → 2CO, -38,800 calories
2C + O2 → 2CO, +58,800 calories
Reactions between steam and carbon:
H20+C → H2+CO, -28,800 calories
2H20+C → 2H2+CO2, -18,800
Reaction between steam and carbon monoxide:
H2O + CO → CO2 + H2, + 10,000 calories
CO2 + H2 → CO +H2O, -10,000 calories
PRODUCER GAS CONSTITUENTS
Constituents Percentage

Carbon monoxide (CO) 8-9 %

Hydrogen (H2) 8-12 %

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 2-4 %

Methane (CH4) 2-4 %

Nitrogen (N2) 45-50 %

Factors Influencing Gasification Process

Bed temperature.
Bed pressure.
Bed height.
Moisture content of feed material.
Particle size.
Air/steam ratio.
Presence of catalysts.
CLASSIFICATION OF BIOMASS
GASIFIERS

LECTURE-19
Classification of biomass Gasifiers
Design of gasifier depends upon type of fuel used, air
introduction in the fuel column and type of combustion bed. Two
types:

Fixed Bed Gasifiers a) Up-draught Gasifier

b) Down-draught Gasifier
c) Cross-draught Gasifier

Fluidized Bed Gasifiers a) Circulating Fluidized

b) Bubbling Bed
FIXED BED GASIFIERS
The fixed bed type gasifier simply consisting of cylindrical reactor in
which solid biomass fuel gasifying and produced gas move either
upward or downward.

These types of gasifier are simple in construction and generally operate

with high carbon conversion, long solid residence time; low gas
velocity and low ash carry over.

Several type of fixed bed gasifiers were operating worldwide and further
these can be classified according to the way in which primary air to
gasify the biomass enters into the gasifier.
UPDRAFT GASIFIER
As the name indicates, air is introduced at the bottom
and biomass at top of the reactor.

A metallic grate is provided at the bottom of the reactor

which supports the reaction bed.

Complete combustion of char takes place at the bottom

of the bed, liberating CO2 and H2O.

These hot gases (∼1000 ◦C) pass through the bed

above, where they are reduced to H2 and CO and
cooled to 750 ◦C.

Continuing up the reactor, the reducing gases (H2 and

CO) pyrolyze the descending dry biomass and finally
dry the incoming wet biomass, leaving the reactor at a
low temperature (∼500 ◦C).

The gas is drawn at upper side.

DOWNDRAFT GASIFIER
In a downdraft gasifier, feedstock is introduced at the
top and the gasifying agent is introduced through a set
of nozzles located on the sides of the reactor.

Reaction zones in a downdraft gasifier are similar to

those in the updraft unit, except the locations of the
oxidation and reduction zones are interchanged.

The most important difference is that the pyrolysis

products in the downdraft type are allowed to pass
through the high temperature oxidation zone. Hence,
they undergo further decomposition.

Also, the moisture vaporized from the biomass enters

the gasification zone and serves as a gasifying agent.

The final product gases, which leave the gasifier from

the bottom at a fairly high temperature
(700oC), contain substantially less tar than the updraft
gasifiers.
Cross-draft gasifiers
Cross-draft gasifiers exhibit many operating characteristics of the
down draft units.

Air or air/steam mixtures are introduced in the side of the gasifi er

near the bottom while the product gas is drawn off on theopposit e
side.

Normally an inlet nozzle is used to bring the air into the center of
the combustion zone .

The velocity of the air as it enters the combustion zone is

considerably higher in this design, which creates a hot
combustion zone.

The combustion (oxidation) and reduction zones are both

concentrated to a small volume around the sides of the unit.

Cross-draft gasifiers respond rapidly to load changes.

They are normally simpler to construct and more suitable for

running engines than the other types of fixed bed gasifiers.

However, they are sensitive to changes in biomass composition

and moisture content.
FLUIDIZED BED GASIFIERS
LECTURE-20
Fluidized bed gasifier
 Fluidized bed (FB) gasification has been used extensively for coal gasification from
many years, its advantage over fixed bed gasifiers being the uniform temperature
distribution achieved in the gasification zone.

 In this type of gasifier, air is blown through a bed of solid particles at a sufficient
velocity to keep these in a state of suspension.

 The bed is externally heated and the feedstock is introduced as soon as a sufficiently
high temperature is reached.

 The fuel particles are introduced at the bottom of the reactor, very quickly mixed
with the bed material and almost instantaneously heated up to the bed temperature.

 As a result of this treatment relatively large amount of gaseous materials produced.

Further gasification and tar-conversion reactions occur in the gas phase.

 Ash particles are also carried over the top of the reactor .
FLUIDIZED BED GASIFIR
ADVANTAGES OF GASIFICATION
Provides Sustainable & Affordable alternative to fossil fuel based power
plants at low power levels. This technology can assure 'Continuous
power supply' even at 'Peak load conditions'.
Efficiency of the system is very high when compared to other
Renewable energy systems such as Wind and Solar.
Gasification is Eco-Friendly as it is "CO2 Neutral", generates very little
SO2 & Nitrogen Oxides compared to conventional fossil fuel based
power plants.
It is a cost effective solution as it combines 'Low Unit Capital Cost' with
'Low Unit Cost of Production'. Cost of installation per kWe is about
the same as for large power levels.
Economic, Social and Environmental benefits associated with Biomass
make it as an attractive renewable energy option.
DISADVANTAGES OF GSIFICATION
Gasification is a complex and sensitive process.

Gasifiers require at least half an hour or more to start the process.

Getting the producer gas is not difficult, but obtaining in the proper state
is the challenging task. The physical and chemical properties of
producer gas such as energy content, gas composition and impurities
vary time to time.

Some amount of tar is released in the gas.

All the gasifiers have fairly strict requirements for fuel size, moisture
and ash content. Inadequate fuel preparation is an important cause of
technical problems with gasifiers.
LIQUEFICATION BY PYROLYSIS
LECTURE-21
PYROLYSIS
Pyrolysis is the process which converts biomass directly into solid
(charcoal), liquid (bio oil), and gaseous (fuel gas) products by thermal
decomposition of biomass in the absence of oxygen.

The relative amounts of the three co-products depend on the operating

temperature and the residence time used in the process.

Pyrolytic oil may be used directly as a liquid fuel for boiler, diesel
engine, gas turbine for heat and electricity generation, or catalytically
upgraded to transport grade fuels.

In all thermo-chemical conversion processes, pyrolysis plays a key role

in the reaction kinetics .
PYROLYSIS
Conclusion
Biomass conversion technology has huge potential to fulfill the rural
energy requirement.

Available of 365 day in a year, better other renewable energy sources

like solar, wind, small hydro power, etc. that depends on climatic
conditions.

It has good agricultural applications such as electricity and steam

generation in the sugar cane industry.

Resolve the high cost generation and transmission of power in

remote/rural areas in the country.

Offer sustainable energy solution.