Combating Greenhouse Effects through Biomass Gasification: A Focus on Kinetic Modeling of Combustion and Gasification Zones

Abstract

The prevalent challenges of global warming, food security, food production, crop production systems, environment control called for consideration and better utilization of green energy system such as biomass. The advanced thermo-chemical conversion of the renewable energy source which is aimed at production of optimal yield of energy has not been well understood. In order to have better physical insights into the detailed structure of the biomass burning process inside a solid bed, the kinetics of the biomass combustion and gasification must be properly analyzed. Consequently, improved kinetic models of the combustion and gasification zones in the thermochemical conversion system are very required. Therefore, the present study focuses on the development of improved kinetic modeling of the combustion and gasification zones in the biomass gasification system. The performance of the biomass gasifier system is evaluated through the equivalence ratio, the syngas composition, cold gas efficiency and lower heating value. Also, the effects of the equivalent ratio on gas compositions, the gasifier performance and the low heating value of the biomass are analyzed. From the analysis, it is established that the concentration of CO, H2 and CH4 in the gasifier decrease as the equivalence ratio increases. However, CO2 concentration increases with an increase in the equivalence ratio. The cold efficiency and LHV decreases as the equivalence ratio increases while the gas yield increases with an increase in the equivalence ratio. The quantity of gas produced increases as the amount of oxygen consumed increases. Also, the ratio of CO/CO2 decreases as the temperature of the reduction zone increases. Such analysis as presented in this work, is very useful as a time-saving and cost-effective tool for designing and optimizing the biomass gasifier. Therefore, it is evident that this work will play a significant role in the system design including analysis of the distribution of products and ash deposit in the downdraft gasifiers.