Assessing the influence of biomass properties on the gasification process using multivariate data analysis. (15th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gil, M.V.; González-Vázquez, M.P.; García, R.; Rubiera, F.; Pevida, C.
• Is Part Of: Energy conversion and management. Volume 184(2019)
• Page Start: 649
• Page End: 660
• Publication Date: 2019-03-15
• Subjects: AS almond shells -- CGE cold gas efficiency (%) -- CH4 CH4 concentration (vol.%) in the gasification gas -- CHE chestnut sawdust -- CHET torrefied chestnut sawdust -- CO CO concentration (vol.%) in the gasification gas -- CO2 CO2 concentration (vol.%) in the gasification gas -- CS cocoa shells -- Edensity energy density (MJ/kg biomass) -- FC fixed carbon -- GP grape pomace -- H/O biomass H/O ratio -- H2 H2 concentration (vol.%) in the gasification gas -- H2+CO syngas concentration (vol.%) in the gasification gas -- H2+CO+CH4 combustible gas concentration (vol.%) in the gasification gas -- HCA hierarchical cluster analysis -- HHVbiomass higher heating value of the biomass (MJ/kg) -- HHVgas higher heating value of the gasification gas (MJ/Nm3) -- MC moisture content -- mol CH4 mol CH4/mol biomass -- mol CO mol CO/mol biomass -- mol CO2 mol CO2/mol biomass -- mol COMBUSTIBLE mol (H2+CO+CH4)/mol biomass -- mol H2 mol H2/mol biomass -- mol SYNGAS mol (H2+CO)/mol biomass -- OS olive stones -- PC principal component -- PCA principal component analysis -- PCL pine cone leafs -- PIN pine sawdust -- PINT torrefied pine sawdust -- PKS pine kernel shells -- RSD relative standard deviation (%) -- S/A steam/air ratio -- SR stoichiometric ratio -- VM volatile matter -- vol GAS gas yield (Nm3/kg biomass); Biomass properties -- Gasification -- Multivariate analysis -- Hierarchical cluster analysis -- Principal component analysis; Direct energy conversion -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Periodicals; Energy transfer -- Periodicals; Énergie -- Conversion directe -- Périodiques; Direct energy conversion; Periodicals; 621.3105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.01.093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0196-8904

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Biomass samples were gasified in air-steam in a bubbling fluidized bed at 900 °C. PCA and HCA classified the biomass samples on the basis of gasification results. The separation of the biomass samples was mainly based on conversion to CO and CH4 . C and H contents and HHV of biomass had a positive effect on gasification conversion. The H/O and K content of the biomass favored the H2 concentration and H2 /CO ratio. Abstract: Multivariate analysis was used to study the influence of the biomass characteristics on the gasification process. Ten lignocellulosic biomass samples (almond shells –AS–, chestnut sawdust –CHE–, torrefied chestnut sawdust –CHET–, cocoa shells –CS–, grape pomace –GP–, olive stones –OS–, pine cone leafs –PCL–, pine sawdust –PIN–, torrefied pine sawdust –PINT–, and pine kernel shells –PKS–) were gasified in a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier under an air-steam atmosphere. Statistical analysis was applied to the variables that described the results of the gasification process, i.e., gas concentration, gas production (moles), calorific value of the product gas, energy density, and cold gas efficiency, together with the main biomass properties, such as those derived from the elemental and proximate analyses, the higher heating value (HHV), the particle density, and the elemental composition of the ashes. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to the data of biomass properties and gasification parameters in order to elucidate which feedstock features had a more determinant influence on the gasification process. Both HCA and PCA revealed a clear separation of the biomass samples into two main groups on the basis of the gasification results. The results indicated that PKS, PCL, PINT, OS and PIN biomasses were characterized by high production of combustible gases, such as CO and CH4, high conversion and cold gas efficiency during gasification. This indicated that the most important biomass properties for promoting the gas production, calorific value of the product gas, gasification conversion and energy efficiency were the C and H contents and the HHV of the biomass. However, biomasses CS and GP were mainly characterized by high H2 concentration and H2 /CO molar ratio in the gas product, which was mainly related to the higher H/O ratio and K2 O ash content of the biomass. The H2 concentration in the product gas was negatively related to the O and VM contents of the biomass. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of multivariate statistical techniques for analyzing gasification data facilitated to draw valuable conclusions about the influence of the biomass properties on the gasification results.