TITLE:
Syngas Production and Losses Encountered in Gasification of Rice Husks
AUTHORS:
Ethel D. Kasembe, Zacharia M. Mganilwa, Zacharia M. Mganilwa, Geoffrey R. John, Cuthbert F. Mhilu
KEYWORDS:
Coffee Husks, Equivalence Ratio, Exergy, Gasification, Irreversibility (Losses)
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Power and Energy Engineering,
Vol.3 No.4,
April
19,
2015
ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the syngas production
and evaluation losses in high temperature gasification process using coffee
husks. A fast and inexpensive way to evaluate the losses in gasification
processes is by the application mathematical models which allow to predict the
values needed in full scale. Hence, the quantification of gasifier’s losses at
temperatures ranges of 800 K - 1400 K at an equivalence ratios of 0.3, 0.35 and
0.4 at 1 bar are revealed by using exergy model incorporating a chemical
equilibrium model. The model evaluated the product syngas compositions, syngas
heating values and degree of irreversibility values (losses). The results from
the model showed that the production of H2 increased from 9.9% to 18.9% and the
formation of CO2 ranges from 7.2% to 12.3%. CO production is from 21.8% to
17.2%. The irreversibility values obtained were less than 27%. Hence, reduction
of losses protracts biomass resources to be used in energy generation.