Proc. of the 5 International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME-2011), June 06-08, 2011 S.V.

National Institute of Technology, Surat 395 007, Gujarat, India

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Efficient Utilization of Biomass by gasification A Case Study

A.J. Keche 1*, G Amba Prasad Rao 1, R. G. Tated 2
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National Institute of Technology, Warangal-506 004 (AP), India Marathwada Institute of Technology, Aurangabad (Maharashtra), India *Corresponding author (e-mail:kecheashokj@rediffmail.com)

This paper deals with a case study of design, development, fabrication and testing of biomass gasifier and a review of biomass gasifier based power generation system and technological innovation to exploit the vast biomass resource help to generate power in an environment-friendly and profitable proposition. The quality of gas is evaluated in terms of its composition, tar and dust content. The composition of the gas generated is found to CO: 13-22%, H2: 11-16%, CH4: 0.9 4.5%, O2: 1.5-2.5%, CO2:10-16, N2: 43-55%.The optimum air fuel ratio required for gasification is obtained as 1.7:1. 1. Introduction

Unprecedented developments have taken place over past 20 years resulting in very high energy consumption mainly derived from fossil fuels with rapid economical development. The problem of energy shortages and environmental pollution are increasing severely. Though, there are various alternative energy sources, a viable and economical source is preferred over others for sustainable development. Among various sources, agriculture dependent economies are deriving from agricultural produce or wastes-biomass. India being a large agrarian economy, biomass in the form of agricultural residues, animal dung, etc. is available in enormous quantities. Estimates show that over 40% of Indias total energy requirement can be met through biomass burning. However, biomass burning has been characterized with energy inefficiency and environmental hazards. The biomass-based power generation system for rural applications could effectively make up for the absence of grid electricity supply in many remote areas. Utilization of loose biomass has been in the circles of researchers and gasification is rated as top among different methods. At the same time the technology of biomass gasification has been rapidly developed. Biomass gasification offers most attractive alternate energy conversion system. Sustainable energy policy is promoting many researches both for the enhancement of utilization of renewable energy and biomass fuels for power generation. 2. Biomass Gasification

Gasification is a process that converts carbonaceous materials, such as coal, petroleum, biofuel, or biomass, into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam. The resulting gas mixture called synthesis gas or syngas and is itself a fuel. Gasification is a method for extracting energy from many different types of organic materials in effective way. 2.1 Concept and Principle Biomass is a natural substance available, which stores solar energy by the process of photosynthesis in the presence of sunlight. It chiefly contains cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, with an average composition of C H O , with slight variations depending on the
6 10 5

nature of the biomass. Theoretically, the ratio of air-to-fuel required for the complete combustion of the biomass, defined as stoichiometric combustion is 6:1 to 6.5:1, with the end products being CO and H O. In gasification the combustion is carried at sub-stoichiometric
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conditions with air-to-fuel ratio being 1.5:1 to 1.8:1. The gas so obtained is called producer gas, which is combustible. This process is made possible in a device called gasifier, in a

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Proc. of the 5 International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME-2011), June 06-08, 2011 S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat 395 007, Gujarat, India

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limited supply of air. Gasification is a two-stage reaction consisting of oxidation and reduction processes. The first part being sub-stoichiometric oxidation leads to the loss of volatiles from biomass and is exothermic; it results in peak temperatures of 1400 to 1500 K and generation of gaseous products like carbon monoxide, hydrogen in some proportions. The carbon dioxide and water vapor which in turn are reduced in part to carbon monoxide and hydrogen by the hot bed of charcoal generated during the process of gasification. Reduction reaction is an endothermic reaction to generate combustible products like CO, H and CH as indicated
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below. C + CO2 = 2CO C + H2O = CO + H2 C + 2H2 = CH4 The advantage of gasification (syngas) is potentially more efficient than direct combustion of the original fuel because it can be combusted at higher temperatures or even in fuel cells, so that the thermodynamic upper limit to the efficiency defined by Carnot's rule is higher. Syngas may be burned directly in internal combustion engines, used to produce methanol and hydrogen, or converted via the Fischer-Tropsch process into synthetic fuel. Gasification can also do with materials that are not otherwise useful fuels, such as agroresidue or organic waste. In addition, the high-temperature combustion refines out corrosive ash elements such as chloride and potassium, allowing clean gas production from otherwise problematic fuels. At present, Gasification of fossil fuels is widely used on industrial scales to generate electricity. However, almost any type of organic material can be used as the raw material for gasification, such as wood, biomass, or even plastic waste. Gasifier Types The characteristics of different types of biomass gasifiers have been extensively investigated (6-9), however, Warnecke [6] has classified the gasifiers into four categories which are based on the fluid and/or solid movement inside the reactor: Gasifier Types 1.Quasi non-moving or 2. Mechanically-moved 3. Fluidically-moved 4.Special self-moving feedstock feedstock feedstock reactors a. Downdraft a. Bubbling bed (BB) a. Spouted gasifier gasifier bed gasifier b. Updraft gasifier b. Circulating fluidized b. Cyclone c. Cross-draft bed (CFB) gasifier gasifier gasifier c.Entrained-bed gasifier 2.2

Figure.3.1. Down Draft Gasifier setup 3. 3.1. Experimental Details: Objectives: To design and develop a biomass gasifier which would cater to the needs of rural society as energy source and as fuel for automobiles.

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Proc. of the 5 International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME-2011), June 06-08, 2011 S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat 395 007, Gujarat, India

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Estimation of optimum air/fuel ratio for gasification process ( partial Combustion) Estimation of Producer gas constituents.

3.2.

Materials and Methods Raw Material size Instrument used for moisture measurement M.S.-7000 Moisture (Digital) Meter ,Range : Moisture content from 0-50%

40mm x 40mm wooden chips With 10.5% Moisture content. 3.3. Sr. No 1 2

Instrument used for measurement of fuel Gas composition AVL Smoke/Gas Analyser

Composition of Producer Gas Obtained From Wood Gasification Table 3.1 Comparison of gas composition Gasification Percentage of Producer gas constituents Air/Fuel Method Ratio CO H2 CH4 CO2 N2 O2 (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) (%) Down Draft 20.3 -------- 11.16-6 48.3 2.166 1.7:1 Down Draft 21.14 11.65 0.90 15.17 49.03 1.8733 ------

Reference

3 4 5 6 7

Down Draft Stratified Down Draft Stratified Down Draft Stratified Down Draft Stratified Down Draft

13.00 17 18-19 18.520.3 20-28

16.00 14 11 9.816.8 5.5610

-----0.9 ----2.44.5 ----

15 13.6 11-13 10-16 9.7810.75

50 46.5 --43-60 46.947.2

6.4 ----------------

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Present work TERI Case Study [15] [11] [12] [13] [14]

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Analysis Report of Gasifier Testing A Case Study Though there are different types and capacities of gasifiers available in the market, there appears to be some discrepancies in the quality of gas produced due to the variation of feed stock and lack of expertise. The authors could come across one reliable firm involved in the manufacture of biomass gasifier and the testing methodology. The information may enable prospective researchers to follow the same. M/s National Innovation Foundation, Ahmedabad approached TERI for testing of a gasification system. The objective of the testing was to assess the quality of the producer gas. The system has following specifications (as reported by Innovator) Table 4.1 Specification of the System Sr Material used Rated Fuel Engine Filters Blower Battery No. for capacity Used used required Manufacturing Gasifier 01 M.S. and HSS 10 KVA Wood Zypsy Gravel DC motor 12 volts (S.H) Filter, and of Maruti Fabric Filter car 4.1. Methodology The testing on Gasifier system was carried out at a capacity of 5.0-5.5 KVA only and following parameters were tested. Proximate analysis of fuel and Charcoal Tar and Particulate in producer gas Producer gas composition by Gas Chromatography

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Proc. of the 5 International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME-2011), June 06-08, 2011 S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat 395 007, Gujarat, India

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Engine exhaust Emissions Proximate analysis The samples of cut wood and charcoal pieces from the ash pit (bottom of the gasifier), were analyzed for the following parameters. ASTM standard test methods for proximate analysis were adapted for the analysis. Drying - oven method: The total solids are determined by drying the weighed amount of 0 sample in an open Petri- plate kept at 105 C in an oven and loss in weight resulted in the amount of moisture present and sample left in the Petri-plate are total solids present in the sample. Volatile matter is estimated by heating a known amount of oven-dried sample in a closed and pre-weighed silica crucible at 9000C - 2500C for 15 minutes in a muffle furnace, the amount of weight loss is the sample gives the volatile matter of the sample. The ash content in the sample is estimated by combusting oven dried biomass samples in pre weighed and open silica crucible at 750 250C for minimum of 4 hours in muffle furnace. The fixed carbon is estimated on material balance basis. Calorific value (Gross) - Digital Bomb Calorimeter Table 4.2 The average values of proximate analysis Sample Description Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Average Total solids TS (%) 93.02 92.88 93.13 93.01 Volatile Matter VM( % of T.S) 81.98 82.55 82.68 82.40 Fuel Wood Ash( % of T.S) 1.23 0.98 1.47 1.2266 Fixed Carbon ( % of T.S) 16.79 16.50 15.85 16.38 Calorific value (MJ/Kg) 19.93 t9,35 20.06 19.78 Total solids TS (%) 96.98 97.23 96.31 96.84 Volatile Matter VM( % of T.S) 19.96 19.23 19.84 19.67 Charcoal Ash( % of T.S) 2.09 2.13 2.00 2.0733 Fixed Carbon ( % of T.S) 77.95 78.64 78.16 78.25 Calorific value (MJ/Kg) 35.06 31.0l 34.68 33.5833 4.1.2. Tar & Particulate measurements In order to estimate quality of gas in terms of Tar & Particulate content, experiments were carried out. As per the guide lines of European Commission for each day single set (both raw and clean gas samples) of experiments were performed and results are summarized as below Table 4.3 Tar and Dust Content in Producer Gas Tar (mg/m3) Dust mg/m3 Day Raw Clean Raw clean 1 449 85 427 159 2 542 172 727 191 3 509 165 604 190 Average 500 142 586 180 4.1.3. Engine exhaust emissions The frequency was kept in the range of 50 2Hz most of the time indicating stable system operation by adjusting the engine control system. Further with the help of flue gas analyzer engine exhaust was monitored for its CO and other pollutant emissions (as normally NOx emissions are lower in producer gas engines but CO emissions are higher compared to diesel engine). Table 4.4 Percentage of gas components in engine exhaust Day Percentage of gas components in engine exhaust CO (%) CO2 (%) O2 (%) NOx (ppm) 1 0.2 15.3 2.89 86 2 0.23 15.4 2.24 215 3 0.21 14.4 3.99 125 Average 0.21 15.0333 3.04 142 4.1.4. Producer gas composition and calorific value Producer gas samples were taken at regular intervals for measuring its composition using Gas Chromatography (GC).GC results were obtained using TCD (Thermal Conductivity

4.1.1

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Proc. of the 5 International Conference on Advances in Mechanical Engineering (ICAME-2011), June 06-08, 2011 S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat 395 007, Gujarat, India

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Detector) and using chromosorb 102 & Mol. Sieve-l3x columns in series. The following temperature conditions maintained: Oven - 45oC, Injector - 600C , Detector 110oC Table 4.5 Volumetric composition of producer gas and Calorific Value Day Percentage of Producer gas constituents Total Cal. Value (%) Kcal/m3 CO2 (%) H2 (%) O2 (%) N2 (%) CH4 (%) CO (%) 1 15.16 11.98 1.12 48.95 0.85 21.39 100 1026.11 2 13.24 12.30 2.87 49.07 0.99 21.53 100 1053 3 17.13 10.68 1.63 49.08 0.88 20.50 100 968.37 Avg 15.1766 11.65 1.8733 49.03 0.9066 21.14 100 1015.8266 5. Results 1) Typical producer gas composition obtained from wood is as follows : CO :13-22%, H2:11 - 16 %, CH4: 0.9 - 4.5 %; O2:1.5 -2.5 %; CO2:10 - 16 %; N2: 43 - 55 % 2) Optimum Air fuel ratio required for gasification process obtained as 1.7:1 3 3) Tar content in the clean producer gas obtained as 142 mg/m (From case Study) 3 4) Dust content in the clean producer gas obtained as 180 mg/m (From case Study) 5) Typical gas components in engine exhaust obtained as CO : 0.21%, CO2: 15.0333%, O2: 3.04%; NOx (ppm): 142(From case Study) 6. Conclusions Biomass will play an important role in the future global energy infrastructure for the generation of power and heat. The last two decades of R&D efforts at the Indian Institute of Science, in the area of biomass gasification have resulted in a technology package to meet the energy needs in various sectors. The gasification system has proved a reliable alternative energy conversion for village electrification and industrial operations meeting thermal and electrical needs. Since solid biomass has become scarce and the efforts should be made to commercialize the use of agricultural waste, dry leaves etc. with effective gasification process References [1] Ayhan Demirbas - Combustion characteristics of different biomass fuels. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 30 (2004) 219230 [2] A. Franco, N. Giannini -Perspectives for the use of biomass as fuel in combined cycle power plants, International Journal of Thermal Sciences 44 (2005) 163177 [3] Pratik N. Sheth, B.V. Babu -Experimental studies on producer gas generation from wood waste in a downdraft biomass gasifier. Bioresource Technology 100 (2009) 31273133 [4] Z.A. Zainal, Ali Rifau, G.A. Quadir, K.N. Seetharamu - Experimental investigation of a downdraft biomass gasifier - Biomass and Bioenergy 23 (2002) 283 289 [5] R. H. Williams and E. D. Larson. - Biomass gasifier gas turbine power generating technology, Biomass and Bioenergy Vol. 10, Nos 2-3, pp. 149-166. 1996 [6] R. Warnecke, Gasification of biomass: comparison of fixed bed and fluidized bed gasifier, Biomass and Bioenergy, 18 (2000) 489-497 [7] P. Basu, Combustion and gasification in fluidized beds, Taylor and Francis Group, LLC, Boca Raton, FL, 2006. [8] M. Dogru, A. Midilli, C.R. Howarth, Gasification of sewage sludge using a throated downdraft gasifier and uncertainty analysis, Fuel Processing Technology, 75(2002)55-82 [9] P. McKendry, Energy production from biomass (part 3): gasification technologies, Bioresource Technology, 83 (2002) 55-63. [10] S. Dasappa1, P. J. Paul, H. S. Mukunda, N. K. S. Rajan, G. Sridhar and H. V. Sridhar Biomass gasification technology a route to meet energy needs [11] Groeveneld, M.J. and W.P.M. Van Swaaij, 1980.gasification of char particles with CO2 andH2O.Chem. Engg. Sci., 35: 307. [12] Manurung, R.K. and A.A.C.M. Beenackers. Modelling and Simulation of an open core downdraft moving bed rice husk gasifier. Advances in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion. London: Blackie A. & P, pp: 288-309. [13] Di Blasi, C., 2000. Dynamic behaviour of stratified downdraft gasifiers. Chem. Engg. Sci., 55: 2931-2944.

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