Experimental analysis of biomass gasification with steam and oxygen

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1992 · Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0038-092X(92)90066-J· OSTI ID:7076257

Wang, Y; Kinoshita, C M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu (United States)

Parametric tests are performed on an indirectly heated, fluidized bed biomass gasifier. The test system allows feedstock, oxygen, nitrogen, and steam flow rates, and temperature to be controlled independently. Gas residence time, temperature, equivalence ratio, and steam:biomass ratio are varied, and product gas composition and select gasification parameters are evaluated and compared with theoretical predictions. Methanol, produced via biomass gasification, has the potential to contribute substantially to future supplies of renewable transportation fuels. Technoeconomic analyses have indicated that gasification of biomass for methanol synthesis can be economically feasible where biomass can be grown and processed efficiently and in sufficient quantities. Substantial research on biomass gasification has been performed during the past decade, employing different gasifier configurations, oxidants, and modes of heating. However, most of the biomass gasification studies performed to date have focused on the production of direct-combustion gases, not on the production of a synthesis gas for subsequent conversion into methanol. Moreover, very little experimental research has been performed to analyze the influence of gasification parameters on product gas composition and gasifier performance. Thus, important information that could significantly impact the design and operation of biomass gasifiers and, ultimately, the yield and cost of producing methanol from biomass, is largely lacking. This experimental work attempts to fill that void by correlating actual gasification behavior with theoretical predictions, with the overall goal of optimizing the conversion of biomass into methanol.

• OSTI ID: 7076257
• Journal Information: Solar Energy (Journal of Solar Energy Science and Engineering); (United States), Vol. 49:3; ISSN 0038-092X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
BIOMASS
GASIFICATION
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
BIOMASS CONVERSION PLANTS
FLUIDIZED BEDS
METHANOL
OPTIMIZATION
OXYGEN
PRODUCTION
STEAM
SYNTHESIS GAS
ALCOHOLS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
090900* - Biomass Fuels- Processing- (1990-)