An Experimental Investigation of Syngas Composition from Small-Scale Biomass Gasification

Abstract

The proposed study is to evaluate the performance of a modular biomass gasification to produce syngas for the purpose of utilizing as supplementary source for power generation application. Experiments were carried out in two different-scale reactors (a 1Kw fluidized bed cylindrical gasifier, 370mm height and 54mm of diameter and a 5Kw self-sustaining fluidized bed gasifier, 700mm height and 127mm diameter) at different temperatures and equivalent ratios (ER). The selected biomass is palletized Napier grass to be used as the feedstock for both reactors. The result data shows an increasing yield in syngas (CO + H2) by increasing the temperature. Furthermore, it shows that an ER of 0.2 is best performing. Apart from retrieving high syngas yields, an ER of 0.2 also showed to have the least oil production and the most heating value and carbon conversion which is desirable for a gasification process. Once with the optimum ER and the maximum yield of syngas, gasification efficiency and therefore the potential of its energy generation is expected to meet the prospects.