Production of Hydrogen Gas from Biomass Wastes Using Fluidized Bed Gasifier

Abstract

An energy efficient approach to hydrogen rich syn-gas production from biomass and wastes is represented at relatively low temperature, around 6000C, in a continuous-feeding fluidized bed Gasifier. The effects of different biomass materials, temperature, steam to biomass ratio (S/B) and Equivalence Ratio (ER) on gas yield, gas composition, and carbon conversion efficiency have been studied. Higher temperature contributed to higher gas yield and carbon conversion. The steam introduction increased hydrogen yield by steam reforming and water gas shift reaction. Rice husk, rice straw and rice straw were gasified in the present work. Temperature during gasification was varied with 500-10000C. ER was varied within 0.15 to 0.35 and steam to biomass ratio was varied within 1.35 to 2.5. Minimum extra of 20% stoichiometric air is required for satisfactory performance of gasifier. ASPEN plus simulation was also carried out for optimization of process parameters. ASPEN plus simulation and experimental observations were found to have very good approximation in most of the cases. Performance of fluidized bed gasifier was satisfactory for ER within 0.25 to 0.35 and S/B ratio within 2 to 2.5.