Effect of blending ratio and catalyst loading on co-gasification of wood chips and coconut waste. Issue 5 (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sulaiman, Shaharin Anwar; Roslan, Raihanna; Inayat, Muddasser; Yasin Naz, Muhammad
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Energy Institute. Volume 91:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 779
• Page End: 785
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Catalytic co-gasification -- Coconut wasted -- Mineral catalyst -- Wood chips; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Fuel -- Periodicals; 621.04205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joei.2017.05.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9671

Abstract

Abstract: Catalytic co-gasification is an important tar reforming technique, which may appreciably improve the quality of syngas through tar reforming reaction. In this study, wood chips (WC) were co-gasified with two coconut wastes, namely coconut shells (CS) and coconut fronds (CF), in a downdraft gasifier. The dolomite and limestone were used as tar reforming mediums. The effect of the blending ratio, catalyst type, biomass type and catalyst to biomass loading on gas composition and heating value of the syngas was investigated for different WC/CS and WC/CF blends. The results revealed that the WC/CS blending ratio of 70:30 produces the highest H2 amount (11.70 vol.%), which was 31% higher than the H2 amount of the other blends. The HHVsyngas of 70:30 blend was measured about 4.96 MJ/Nm 3, which was also higher among all the tested blends. The co-gasification of 70:30 blend of WC/CS, when compared with same blending ratio WC/CF, produced two times higher CO, 60% higher H2 and 75% higher HHVsyngas . During catalytic co-gasification of WC/CS blends with dolomite and limestone, the dolomite yielded 24%, 13.8% and 25.6% increment in CO, H2, and CH4, respectively. It is concluded that the coconut wastes can be substituted or co-gasified with wood after carrying out some major changes in a gasifier geometry. Highlights: Wood chips were co-gasified with two coconut wastes; coconut shells, and coconut fronds in a fixed-bed downdraft gasifier. Effect of mineral catalysts, dolomite and limestone was investigated on the quality of syngas. Higher H2 production (11.70 vol%) was obtained at 70:30 blending ratio which was 31% higher than the other blends. A significate syngas composition improved with dolomite as compared to limestone. Coconut wastes can be co-gasified with wood waste without performing major modifications in the gasifier geometry.