TITLE:
Cost-Effective Monitoring of the Fuel Air Equivalence-Ratio with a Lambda Sensor and a Microcontroller in a Downdraft Biomass Gasifier
AUTHORS:
Jean Fidele Nzihou, Salou Hamidou, Ousmane Zoundi, Frederic Ouattara, Bila Gerard Segda
KEYWORDS:
Equivalence Ratio, Biomass, Gasification, Lambda Sensor, Microcontroller, C++
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Applied Sciences,
Vol.14 No.2,
February
29,
2024
ABSTRACT: The operation of biomass
treatment devices such as gasifiers is based on the control of key parameters
that play an important role in product formation. These include: temperature,
excess oxygen, relative humidity and biomass composition. This work focuses on
excess oxygen and temperature. Unfortunately, flue gas oxygen analyzers are
expensive and not accessible to small industries. However, the equivalence
ratio is linked to excess oxygen and has the advantage of not depending on
biomass composition. This study therefore focuses on the design and development
of a device for controlling this equivalence ratio by measuring oxygen
concentration using a self-propelled Lambda probe, and a system for monitoring
this equivalence ratio using an Arduino Uno 3 microcontroller. The temperature
is recorded with an accuracy of ±1.5°C. For a heating time of 10 minutes, the
response time to temperature change is around 3 seconds, which is sufficient
for the device to function properly. This simple device is an efficient and
cost-effective means of checking the equivalence ratio.