Product Compositions from Sequential Biomass Pyrolysis and Gasification of Its Char Residue
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 5
Abstract
Sequential pyrolysis of biomass and gasification of the resultant char generate syngas. The Aspen Plus software was used to simulate a two-stage high-temperature cyclone pyrolysis and gasification of corn straw and rice husk. The effects of the pyrolyzer temperature (700°C–1,400°C) and of the gasification agent (air/steam) on the products of both pyrolysis and gasification, and on the gasifier temperature were assessed. Pyrolysis of biomass generates gases that are rich in and CO, and solid residues amounting to 14%–35% of the feedstock mass, depending on the process temperature. High pyrolysis temperatures promote the and CO formation. Burning half the mass of the pyrolysis gas ensures energy sufficiency in the pyrolyzer. The CO concentration in the gasification syngas increases with input ratios increasing from 0.1 to 1, and decreases with . Gasification in steam-enriched air initially promotes the formation of and, to a lesser extent, enhances the CO concentrations in the output syngas as the amount of increases; eventually they both reach maximum values and then decrease. In gasification processes, 30%–60% fractions of steam in air are recommended.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51976049). Xinyu Wang was supported by the China Scholarship Council (Grant No. 201806120165).
References
Ahmad, A. A., N. A. Zawawi, F. H. Kasim, A. Inayat, and A. Khasri. 2016. “Assessing the gasification performance of biomass: A review on biomass gasification process conditions, optimization and economic evaluation.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 53 (Jan): 1333–1347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.09.030.
AlNouss, A., G. McKay, and T. Al-Ansari. 2020. “Production of Syngas via gasification using optimum blends of biomass.” J. Cleaner Prod. 242 (Jan): 118499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118499.
Azar, C., K. Lindgren, E. Larson, and K. Möllersten. 2006. “Carbon capture and storage from fossil fuels and biomass–costs and potential role in stabilizing the atmosphere.” Clim. Change 74 (1–3): 47–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-3484-7.
Basu, P. 2010. Biomass gasification and pyrolysis: Practical design and theory. Burlington, MA: Academic Press.
Biagini, E., A. Bardi, G. Pannocchia, and L. Tognotti. 2009. “Development of an entrained flow gasifier model for process optimization study.” Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 48 (19): 9028–9033. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie801804g.
Bridgwater, A. V. 1995. “The technical and economic feasibility of biomass gasification for power generation.” Fuel 74 (5): 631–653. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-2361(95)00001-L.
Couto, N., V. Silva, E. Monteiro, P. Brito, and A. Rouboa. 2015. “Modeling of fluidized bed gasification: Assessment of zero-dimensional and CFD approaches.” J. Therm. Sci. 24 (4): 378–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-015-0798-7.
Dhanavath, K. N., K. Shah, S. K. Bhargava, S. Bankupalli, and R. Parthasarathy. 2018. “Oxygen–steam gasification of karanja press seed cake: Fixed bed experiments, ASPEN Plus process model development and benchmarking with saw dust, rice husk and sunflower husk.” J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 6 (2): 3061–3069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2018.04.046.
Doherty, W., A. Reynolds, and D. Kennedy. 2009. “The effect of air preheating in a biomass CFB gasifier using ASPEN Plus simulation.” Biomass Bioenergy 33 (9): 1158–1167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2009.05.004.
Duan, W., Q. Yu, K. Wang, Q. Qin, L. Hou, X. Yao, and T. Wu. 2015. “ASPEN Plus simulation of coal integrated gasification combined blast furnace slag waste heat recovery system.” Energy Convers. Manage. 100 (Aug): 30–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2015.04.066.
Gagliano, A., F. Nocera, M. Bruno, and G. Cardillo. 2017. “Development of an equilibrium-based model of gasification of biomass by Aspen Plus.” Energy Procedia 111 (Mar): 1010–1019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.264.
Gu, H., Y. Tang, J. Yao, and F. Chen. 2019. “Study on biomass gasification under various operating conditions.” J. Energy Inst. 92 (5): 1329–1336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2018.10.002.
Guan, G., M. Kaewpanha, X. Hao, and A. Abudula. 2016. “Catalytic steam reforming of biomass tar: Prospects and challenges.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 58 (May): 450–461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.316.
Hu, Y., Q. Cheng, Y. Wang, P. Guo, Z. Wang, H. Liu, and A. Akbari. 2019. “Investigation of biomass gasification potential in syngas production: Characteristics of dried biomass gasification using steam as the gasification agent.” Energy Fuels 34 (1): 1033–1040. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b02701.
Kaushal, P., and R. Tyagi. 2017. “Advanced simulation of biomass gasification in a fluidized bed reactor using ASPEN PLUS.” Renewable Energy 101 (Feb): 629–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.09.011.
Kong, X., W. Zhong, W. Du, and F. Qian. 2014. “Compartment modeling of coal gasification in an entrained flow gasifier: A study on the influence of operating conditions.” Energy Convers. Manage. 82 (Jun): 202–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2014.01.055.
Koppatz, S., C. Pfeifer, R. Rauch, H. Hofbauer, T. Marquard-Moellenstedt, and M. Specht. 2009. “H2 rich product gas by steam gasification of biomass with in situ absorption in a dual fluidized bed system of 8 MW fuel input.” Fuel Process. Technol. 90 (7–8): 914–921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2009.03.016.
Levendis, Y. A., A. Panahi, E. Rokni, and X. Ren. 2015. “Emissions from cofiring coals.” In Proc., 40th Int. Technical Conf. on Clean Coal and Fuel Systems, 533–544. Louisa, VA: Clean Technologies Associates.
Magalhães, D., A. Panahi, F. Kazanç, and Y. A. Levendis. 2019. “Comparison of single particle combustion behaviours of raw and torrefied biomass with Turkish lignites.” Fuel 241 (Apr): 1085–1094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.12.124.
Motta, I. L., N. T. Miranda, R. Maciel Filho, and M. R. W. Maciel. 2018. “Biomass gasification in fluidized beds: A review of biomass moisture content and operating pressure effects.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 94 (Oct): 998–1023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.042.
Nayak, R., and R. Mewada. 2011. “Simulation of coal gasification process using ASPEN PLUS.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Current Trends In Technology: Nuicone. Piscataway, NJ: IEEE.
Nemtsov, D., and A. Zabaniotou. 2008. “Mathematical modelling and simulation approaches of agricultural residues air gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor.” Chem. Eng. J. 143 (1–3): 10–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2008.01.023.
Nikoo, M. B., and N. Mahinpey. 2008. “Simulation of biomass gasification in fluidized bed reactor using ASPEN PLUS.” Biomass Bioenergy 32 (12): 1245–1254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.02.020.
Pala, L. P. R., Q. Wang, G. Kolb, and V. Hessel. 2017. “Steam gasification of biomass with subsequent syngas adjustment using shift reaction for syngas production: An Aspen Plus model.” Renewable Energy 101 (Feb): 484–492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.08.069.
Panahi, A., Y. A. Levendis, N. Vorobiev, and M. Schiemann. 2017a. “Direct observations on the combustion characteristics of Miscanthus and Beechwood biomass including fusion and spherodization.” Fuel Process. Technol. 166 (Nov): 41–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuproc.2017.05.029.
Panahi, A., Y. A. Levendis, N. Vorobiev, M. Schiemann, and V. Scherer. 2016. “Combustion behaviors of a herbaceous and a Woody Biomass.” In Proc., 41st Int. Technical Conf. on Clean Coal and Fuel Systems, edited by B. A. Sakkestad, 62–72. Louisa, VA: Clean Technologies Associates.
Panahi, A., S. K. Sirumalla, R. H. West, and Y. A. Levendis. 2019a. “Temperature and oxygen partial pressure dependencies of the coal-bound nitrogen to NOx conversion in environments.” Combust. Flame 206 (Aug): 98–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.04.015.
Panahi, A., M. Tarakcioglu, and Y. A. Levendis. 2017b. “Torrefied biomass size for combustion in existing boilers.” In Proc., 10th US National Combustion Meeting. Pittsburgh: Combustion Institute.
Panahi, A., M. Tarakcioglu, M. Schiemann, M. Delichatsios, and Y. A. Levendis. 2018. “On the particle sizing of torrefied biomass for co-firing with pulverized coal.” Combust. Flame 194 (Aug): 72–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2018.04.014.
Panahi, A., N. Toole, X. Wang, and Y. A. Levendis. 2020. “On the minimum oxygen requirements for oxy-combustion of single particles of torrefied biomass.” Combust. Flame 213 (Mar): 426–440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.12.012.
Panahi, A., N. Vorobiev, M. Schiemann, M. Tarakcioglu, M. Delichatsios, and Y. A. Levendis. 2019b. “Combustion details of raw and torrefied biomass fuel particles with individually-observed size, shape and mass.” Combust. Flame 207 (Sep): 327–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2019.06.009.
Puig-Arnavat, M., J. C. Bruno, and A. Coronas. 2010. “Review and analysis of biomass gasification models.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 14 (9): 2841–2851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.07.030.
Qi, G. 2010. Experimental research and numerical simulation of biomass pyrolysis and tar thermal cracking. Harbin, China: Harbin Institute of Technology.
Sadhwani, N., P. Li, M. R. Eden, and S. Adhikari. 2017. “Process modeling of fluidized bed biomass- gasification using ASPEN Plus.” In Computer aided chemical engineering, 2509–2514. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier.
Sharma, A. M., A. Kumar, S. Madihally, J. R. Whiteley, and R. L. Huhnke. 2014. “Prediction of biomass-generated syngas using extents of major reactions in a continuous stirred-tank reactor.” Energy 72 (Aug): 222–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2014.05.027.
Shayan, E., V. Zare, and I. J. Mirzaee. 2018. “Hydrogen production from biomass gasification: A theoretical comparison of using different gasification agents.” Energy Convers. Manage. 159 (Mar): 30–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2017.12.096.
Sirumalla, S. K., A. Panahi, A. Purohit, A. Baugher, Y. A. Levendis, and R. H. West. 2018. Nitrogen oxide evolution in oxy-coal combustion. Pittsburgh: US Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute.
Situmorang, Y. A., Z. Zhao, A. Yoshida, A. Abudula, and G. Guan. 2020. “Small-scale biomass gasification systems for power generation ( class): A review.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 117 (Jan): 109486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109486.
Susastriawan, A. A. P., and H. Saptoadi. 2017. “Small-scale downdraft gasifiers for biomass gasification: A review.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 76 (Sep): 989–1003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.03.112.
Tavares, R., E. Monteiro, F. Tabet, and A. Rouboa. 2020. “Numerical investigation of optimum operating conditions for syngas and hydrogen production from biomass gasification using Aspen Plus.” Renewable Energy 146 (Feb):1309–1314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.07.051.
Wang, X., W. Lv, L. Guo, M. Zhai, P. Dong, and G. Qi. 2016. “Energy and exergy analysis of rice husk high-temperature pyrolysis.” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 41 (46): 21121–21130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.09.155.
Wang, X., M. Zhai, Z. Wang, P. Dong, W. Lv, and R. Liu. 2018. “Carbonization and combustion characteristics of palm fiber.” Fuel 227 (Sep): 21–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2018.04.088.
Xiangdong, K., W. Zhong, D. Wenli, and Q. Feng. 2013. “Three stage equilibrium model for coal gasification in entrained flow gasifiers based on aspen plus.” Chin. J. Chem. Eng. 21 (1): 79–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1004-9541(13)60444-9.
Yan, F., S.-Y. Luo, Z.-Q. Hu, B. Xiao, and G. Cheng. 2010. “Hydrogen-rich gas production by steam gasification of char from biomass fast pyrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor: Influence of temperature and steam on hydrogen yield and syngas composition.” Bioresour. Technol. 101 (14): 5633–5637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.02.025.
Yi, Q., J. Feng, and W. Y. Li. 2012. “Optimization and efficiency analysis of polygeneration system with coke-oven gas and coal gasified gas by Aspen Plus.” Fuel 96 (Jun): 131–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2011.12.050.
Yin, W., S. Wang, K. Zhang, and Y. He. 2020. “Investigation of oxygen-enriched biomass gasification with TFM-DEM hybrid model.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 211 (Jan): 115293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2019.115293.
Zhai, M., L. Guo, Y. Wang, Y. Zhang, P. Dong, and H. Jin. 2016. “Process simulation of staging pyrolysis and steam gasification for pine sawdust.” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 41 (47): 21926–21935. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.10.037.
Zhai, M., X. Wang, Y. Zhang, P. Dong, and G. Qi. 2015a. “Characteristics of rice husk tar pyrolysis by external flue gas.” Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 40 (34): 10780–10787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2015.07.045.
Zhai, M., X. Wang, Y. Zhang, P. Dong, G. Qi, and Y. Huang. 2015b. “Characteristics of rice husk tar secondary thermal cracking.” Energy 93 (Dec): 1321–1327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2015.10.029.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 146 • Issue 5 • October 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 2, 2020
Accepted: May 13, 2020
Published online: Jul 24, 2020
Published in print: Oct 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Dec 24, 2020
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.