Sunday, May 4, 2008
4-22

Modeling of Biomass Gasifier Based on Thermodynamic Equilibrium

Hua-Jiang Huang and Shri Ramaswamy. Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Kaufert Lab., 2004 Folwell Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108

Biomass gasification is gaining increasing attention as one of the prominent thermochemical conversion methods to produce renewable fuels, energy and other products. In addition to producing energy for heat and power, syngas from biomass gasification can be subsequently converted into liquid transportation fuels such as methanol, DME, ethanol, diesel, gasoline etc. and other chemicals. The four main types of gasifier include fixed bed (updraft and downdraft), fluidized bed (bubbling and circulating flow) and entrained flow gasifier.

Here a thermodynamic equilibrium model of biomass gasification applicable to varying gasifier types is presented. Thermodynamic equilibrium model can be used to estimate the equilibrium composition of the syngas. Depending on the gasifier type and internal fluid flow, heat and mass transfer characteristics, with proper modification of the equilibrium model, a simple tool to simulate the operation and performance of the biomass gasifier can be developed. The objective of this presentation is to develop a thermodynamic equilibrium model of biomass gasification, and then to develop a modified model to simulate the performance of a downdraft gasifier. Simulation results show that the modified model can well describe the real downdraft gasifier.


See more of Poster Session One
See more of General Submissions

See more of The 30th Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (May 4 -- 7, 2008)