TITLE:
Performance Investigation of Biomass Gasification for Syngas and Hydrogen Production Using Aspen Plus
AUTHORS:
Sahar Safarian, Runar Unnthorsson, Christiaan Richter
KEYWORDS:
Biomass Gasification, Syngas, Hydrogen, Simulation, Parametric Analysis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modelling and Simulation,
Vol.10 No.2,
March
10,
2022
ABSTRACT: This study presents a reliable model using Aspen Plus
process simulator capable of performing a sensitivity analysis of the downdraft
gasification linked to hydrogen production unit. Effects of key factors,
including gasification temperature and steam to biomass ratio (SBR) on the
syngas composition, calorific value of syngas and hydrogen production are
discussed and then the optimal conditions for maximum hydrogen production are
extracted. The model is validated by experimental and other modeling data and
found to be in great agreement. The sensitivity analysis results obtained by
only using air as gasification agent indicate that higher temperatures are
favorable for a product gas with higher hydrogen content and calorific value.
Moreover, steam consumption as gasifying agent leads to increasing the hydrogen
content and heating value of the syngas compared to the use of air as
gasification agent. Finally, the results show that the optimal conditions to
have the highest value of hydrogen output from sawdust downdraft gasification
are 800˚C as gasifier temperature and 0.6 for SBR.