Diseño Conceptual de un Gasificador de Biomasa de Lecho Fijo en Equicorriente a Escala Piloto

Abstract

This study presents the conceptual design of a pilot-scale downdraft fixed-bed gasifier of lignocellulosic biomass. The dimensions of the reactor were determined based on the requirement of electric power output (150 kWt) and on the simulation of the gasification process with a one-dimension kinetic model. The simulations were aimed to obtaining high thermodynamic efficiencies (60% and 75%) for different biomass moisture contents. Depending on the reactor size and biomass moisture content, the simulations identified two best configurations for the gasifier that allowed generation of 117 kWt and 200 kWt withthermodynamic efficiencies of 43% and 70% respectively. The designed gasifier is 1,8 m long and produces between 25 kWe and 50 kWe as it makes use of the adiabatic characteristics of the endothermic zone and the gas sensitive enthalpy for biomass drying and devolatilization.