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Kumar 2015
Kumar 2015
Dr. D. Y. Patil Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pune, India 30 Oct - 01 Nov, 2015
Abstract— Gasification is a thermo-chemical process for have Solar, Hydro, Wind energy in abundance, it is not easy to
converting a solid fuel into a mixture of combustible gases known convert those into useful form immediately. Therefore, here
as “product gas”. Product gas contains carbon monoxide, comes the use of biomass energy in our daily life. In recent
Hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrogen, tar years, extensive research and development is invested in
(Heavy Hydrocarbons), sulphur compounds, and particulate promoting the use of Gasification technology in large and
matter etc. Although the potential of the process is high in terms small scale power generator plants.
of uses and expenditure but the problem is to eradicate the
hazardous contents present in the form of residues. Emission has
also become the main drawback in the uses of product gas. The II. BIOMASS
quality of the product gas depends on design and operating Biomass is a collection of organic and inorganic materials
parameters of the gasifier. The idea of gasifier design should be mostly consisting of bi-products and wastes from Agriculture
in such a way that it can convert the solid biomass like wood and Animals. Biomass is considered renewable because unlike
particulate, organic and inorganic wastes into the form clean Fossil fuels, there is continuous reproduction of plants through
product gas. Tar can be removed either through physical crop harvesting and consumption of food by the animals. At
techniques or by catalytic cracking or by thermal cracking or
present 450 – 500 million tons per year of biomass is produced
combination of these. A suitable composition of the syngas has to
be collected which will be useful for extracting bio-methane gas.
in India and provides 32% of all the primary energy in the
This paper reviews extensively on techniques to obtain a clean country [2]. For production of Bio-Methane following biomass
product-gas and ways to extract Bio-methane to use it directly or fuels were tested successfully, they are wood, sewage sludge
as a supplement with diesel to run a diesel generator for and lignite. Farm products like Corn, Sugar, Wheat, Rape
electricity generation. seeds, Soybean, Palm sunflower seeds etc. are consumed daily.
Hence, has attracted as the source of energy generation.
Keywords—Gasification; Syngas; Biomass; Tar; Filtration; Biomass is considered as “Carbon Neutral fuel” because the
Design parameters; Diesel blending; Biomethane amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants for their
growth are again released back to the atmosphere, not
I. INTRODUCTION disturbing the carbon-dioxide levels in the atmosphere [1]. If
grains and crops are used as biomass for energy generation like
In a country like India, where agriculture industry palm oil for biodiesel, corn for ethanol to replace fossil fuels,
influences larger part of the economy, amount of biomass like then controversial discussion may arise on fuel over food. In
wood, bio-waste are also available in large quantities. At such case wood and other bio-waste from agriculture sector are
present, power generation system like Diesel generators are suitable for thermal gasification.
used extensively in rural and hilly areas as an alternative to the
shortage in power supply. The emissions from these generators
are affecting the surrounding environment. The need of the III. DOWNDRAFT GASIFICATION
hour is usage of clean and eco-friendly fuel which has zero One of the technologies involved in energy production
GHG (Green house gas) emissions and help in generating using biomass is Gasification. Gasification is the process of
electricity independently without relying on the external power converting complex class of solid or liquid feedstock into a
supply sources. useful and convenient gaseous or liquefied fuel that can be
In a period of fast growing era of human evolution, man’s burned to release energy [1]. In recent decades, many gasifier
dependency on various forms of energy forms like Electricity, reactor designs were introduced depending on several aspects.
Thermal, Mechanical, Hydro is increasing exponentially. Mainly there are three types of gasifiers namely – Fixed-bed
Simultaneously, conventional energy resources are depleting at type, Fluidized-bed type and Entrained-flow type. This paper
faster rate. This realization has lead to focus on developing deals with gasification using Downdraft Gasifier. The
technology to draw energy from renewable energy sources, an feedstock is fed from the top and Air or Steam is supplied
effort to save the nature or rather safeguard our present and inside from the sides of the reactor at combustion zone. In
coming generation’s lives from getting destroyed. Though we
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input and CO, H2, CO2 concentration. TABLE III shows that TABLE IV. LHV OF THE PRODUCT GAS [1]
when moisture content in the biomass increases the Gasification medium Range of Heating Value of the
concentration of CO decreases whereas CO2 and H2 increase, Product gas (MJ/Nm3)
there is no effect on CH4 production. Maximum of 40% of Air gasification 4-7
moisture content is permissible in wood when used in Steam gasification 10-18
downdraft gasifier [1,3,4]. Oxygen gasification 12-28
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D. Turn-down ratio: The transformation of these tar products is a function of
1) Gasifier Operating Parameters: temperature and gas phase residence time. A schematic
a) Air flow rate: It is the rate of air flowing into the relation of Tar formation at different temperatures is shown in
combustion zone to partially oxidize the devolatilized biomass. the below equation. After the biomass reaches its igniting
This parameter is useful for determining the size of the fan or temperature an average of 250 qC, due to partial oxidation
blower needed to be fixed along side of the reactor. it depends reactions, under low pressure and 400qC temperature a part of
on the equivalence ratio, fuel consumption rate, stoichiometric biomass fuel is transformed to primary vapors (oxygenates), at
rate of the fuel and density of air. Air flow rate is obtained by 500qC these oxygenates change to light hydrocarbons,
calculating the expression given below: aromatics like phenolic ethers, then later to alkyl phenolics at
H u FCR u SR 600qC, then to heterocyclic ethers at 700 qC, in the next stage
(5) at 900qC and above large complex polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Ua
are formed. These large molecules get cracked down to CO,
b) Operating Temperature: Operating temperature is the H2 , CO2 , H2O and upon condensation form soot and coke.
function of amount of oxygen fed to the gasifier. Oxidation
reactions are exothermic reactions. The heat energy released Mixed Phenolic Alkyl Heterocycl ic L arg e
become the source for the whole gasifier to work properly and oxygenates
o
Ethers
o
phenolics
o
Ethers
o
PAH
o
PAH
(6)
for the reactions taking place in pyrolysis and reduction zones. 400
0
C 500
0
C 600
0
C 700
0
C 800
0
C 900
0
C
Once the gasifier temperature reaches the self igniting From the results shown in the paper [11] it is inferred that
temperature of the biomass then the gasification process Tar cracking was possible when the vaporized form of gas
becomes self sustaining and solely depends on the oxygen with tar was allowed to send through the char bed, it results in
source [9]. less formation of tar and increase in yield of was observed.
c) Equivalence ratio: It is the ratio of actual air-fuel ratio VII. WAYS TO CLEAN THE PRODUCT GAS
to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. This parameter comes under
notice if air or oxygen is used as the gasifying agent. This ratio Tar Reduction Techniques or method to eliminate Tar can
determines the concentration of Tar content during be divided into two types: Primary method, an approach to
gasification. Tar formation in the product gas is reduced by reduce tar production inside the gasifier and Secondary
increasing the ER. High ER means greater oxygen content method, an approach to treat the product gas outside the
allowed to react with the volatiles present in the combustion gasifier either by apply physical separation or thermal
zone. ER ranging between 0.25 to 0.3 is said to be an cracking or plasma assisted cracking or catalytic reforming.
appropriate value for air gasification. From the observations Paper [12] suggests few strategies to reduce tar production.
made in paper [9], variation in equivalence ratio affects the
energy in the product gas, gasification temperature, gas A. Primary technique:
composition, conversion of energy from char to gas. For 1) Apply staged gasification systems: To improve the
complete oxidation of biomass with oxygen a weight ratio
gasification efficiency and reduce the tar content, multistage
(mass of oxygen / mass of the biomass) of 1.476 is required,
whereas with air, a weight ratio of 6.36 is needed. Equivalence downdraft gasifier is a good option to start with. It is a
ratio of 0.25 has been given more preference to convert all the strategic approach, where the 4 reaction zones drying followed
char into gas. with pyrolysis, combustion and reduction are separated from
each other. Viking Gasifier, TK Energi AS, Clean ST Gas,
VI. TAR FORMATION Xylowatt are few staged gasifiers to name. The concentration
of the tar content in these gasifiers was comparatively very
Tar is an undesirable aromatic byproduct of thermal or low. The performance details of the Viking Gasifier are given
partial oxidation reactions of biomass material. It is a complex
in [13,14]. The gasifier efficiency is 93%, Tar level and the
mixture of condensable hydrocarbons, oxidized 1-5 ring
dust levels are less than (5mg/Nm3).
aromatic and complex polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Tar is
2) Use catalytic active bed materials as additives in the
classified into four major types [10].
biomass: Additives or catalysts like dolomite, limestone,
1) Primary products: Levoglucosan
olivine sand, bauxite, lanthanum, alumina, nickel aluminate,
hydroxylacetaldehyde, furfurals, analogous hemicellulose-
cobalt, natural clay minerals and iron minerals [16]. Many
derived products and lignin-derived methoxyphenols.
catalyst were investigated by different visitors, but active
2) Secondary products: Phenolics and olifins.
carbon, calcined dolomite, Y-zeolite at 550qC are best suited
3) Alkyl tertiary products: Include methyl derivatives of
for tar removal [16]. A thorough mixing of the additives with
aromatics, acenaphthylene, methylnaphthalene, toluene and
the biomass is needed before starting with pyrolysis process.
indene.
Paper [15] deals with In-situ catalysis using Silica – Based
4) Condensed tertiary products: PAH series like benzene,
nickel nanoparticles embedded in rice husk char. Various
naphthalene, acenaphthylene, anthracene/phenanthrene, and
proportions of nickel catalysts embedded rice husk are
pyrene.
prepared and tested during gasification. Small amounts of
PAHs were formed, main tar compounds were in simple
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molecular structure which makes things easier for the Ni tested to sequester CO2 . Carbon dioxide scrubber is one such
catalysts to eliminate or reduce the tar formation. The above device which uses catalysts like amines, minerals – zeolites,
given approaches are bit expensive as the additives have to be sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide and activated carbon to
replaced after few hours of operation with new bed. Instead, absorb CO2. Among these catalysts activated carbon is a cheap
Bio-char as In-situ catalyst can be beneficial, cheaper and source available in abundance. It can be used to absorb CO2
efficient enough in removing heavy PAHs like toluene, and after getting saturated it can be regenerated by blowing
benzene. The activated carbon proves to have higher removal ambient air to collect the accumulated CO2 and reuse it as a
efficiency of 69 to 92% because it has higher surface area. At scrubber [20].
higher temperature at around 800qC potentiality to remove
toluene was increased by 10% [17]. VIII. METHANATION - BIOMETHANE EXTRACTION
This is the final stage process in purifying the product gas.
B. Downstream utilization technique
The product gas has to be tar free and has less concentration of
1) Cyclone Separator: A standard hot gas cyclone CO2. The remaining CO and CO2 left in the gas will undergo
separator can be installed at the outlet of the gasifier to catalytic reaction with hydrogen to form methane.
remove the dust particles and other solid impurities greater CO 3H o CH H 2O , 'H - 573
0
K - 51.8 k cal/mole (7)
2 2 4
than 10Pm size [9]. This apparatus is simple in design and
0
inexpensive, can be scaled to the desired dimension according CO 2 4 H 2 o CH 4 2 H 2 O, ' H -573 K(8) 41 . 9 kcal/mole
to the gasifier size. According to paper [21] nickel based catalyst is used. The
2) Bag house filter: These filters are widely used in process is operated at temperature about 300qC, converting all
capturing fine dust particles. The gas is passed through the oxides of carbon to methane and water. Since, the reactions
fibrous bag which is enclosed inside the metal caged chamber. are exothermic in nature, the temperature rise for the
The deposits are accumulated in the bag. Once the bag is filled methanation reaction is around 35qC. Paper [22] presents a
with dust cake then the cake is either removed manually or by Direct Methanation process to convert synthesis gas to natural
gas pressure. gas directly without involving any more complex cleaning
3) Char Catalytic reforming: The bio-char catalyst which technology. This process uses new family of catalysts named
is used in the reduction bed can be used outside the gasifier as GRI 400 and GRI 500, work as a substitute for the water-gas
a downstream catalytic converter. Char supported catalysts shift reaction. The method has many advantages like it reduces
have been proven to show high potentiality for reforming of the overall unit cost of production of the product gas. But this
biomass tar. Nickel additive has been efficient enough in process is under development stage and not many
reducing tar, nickel based char can be arguably good enough developments have been found in later stages.
in tar reforming but a comparison study from paper [18] IX. SCOPE OF DEVELOPMENT
shows that char supported Iron catalyst is better for tar
reforming application than Ni supported char catalyst.
4) Gas washing / scrubbing system: Wet scrubbing system
has been in use for quite some time. This scrubbing system is
built on the basis of Brownian motion principle of the particles
with diameter between 0.1 and 1 Pm. This system is able to
eliminate 49% of heavy tar, 62% of light tars and 79% of
heterocyclic content with dew point at around 180qC [19]. The
problem with this system is that the tar and water get mixed to
form sticky polymeric liquid which cannot be decomposed
anywhere.
5) Catalytic NOx Absorber: If has been used as the
gasifying agent, due to high temperature oxidation reactions
oxides of nitrogen are formed. Catalyst converters like SCR,
EGR and Adsorption techniques were used to remove NOx
molecules from exhaust gases. Few papers have reviewed on Fig. 3. Proposed pilot plan of Multistage Downdraft Gasifier
methods to filter NOx. Paper [19] presents a research results
on absorption of Nitrogen oxides in alkaline solution of 1 - Feedstock 2 - Hopper
sodium hypochlorite in a packed column. The results have 3 – Drying zone 4 – Pyrolysis zone
5 – Air Filter 6 – Oxygenated Air
shown absorption works efficiently depending on parameters
7 – Combustion zone 8 – Residue collector
like gas velocity, spraying density, concentration of nitrogen
9 – Reduction Chamber 10 – Cyclone
oxides in gas and concentration of spraying solution.
11 – Bio-Char filter 12 – Bag house filter
6) CO2 Sequestration: Technology to capture and store
13 - Sequestration 14 – Heater - 300qC
CO2 is still under research phase. Several methods have been 15 - Methanation 16 – Bio-methane
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X. GAP IN LITERATURE REVIEW AND FUTURE RESEARCH ρr Means density of the fuel (kg/m3)
DIRECTION
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