ISSN (Print) : 2319 – 2526, Volume-2, Issue-1, 2013

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Biomass Gasification by the use of Rice Husk Gasifier

Arjyadhara Pradhan

1, S. M Ali

2 & Ritesh Dash

3

1&2School of Electrical Engineering , KIIT University

3Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, ABIT, Cuttack

Abstract – Gasification is a process that converts organic or

fossil based carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide,

hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The process of producing

energy using the gasification method has been in use for

more than 180 years. During that time coal and peat were

used to power these plants. Initially developed to produce

town gas for lighting & cooking in 1800s, this was replaced

by electricity and natural gas, it was also used in blast

furnaces but the bigger role was played in the production of

synthetic chemicals where it has been in use since the

1920s.In this article mainly Biomass Gasification process

and a case study of Rice husk Gasifier using Biomass

Gasification is studies.

Keywords – Gasification, gasozene, syngas, pyrolysis ,

devolatilasation, Fischer-Tropsch.

I. INTRODUCTION

In order to save energy, reduce pollution, extensive

use local rich biomass resources, Rice husk gasification

power generation technology, converting biomass to

green electricity. Power plant will not discharge

pollution due to adopt biomass as fuel materials.

Biomass resource achieve high efficiency utilization

.Gasification process is achieved by reacting the

material at high temperatures (>700°C), without

combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or

steam. The resulting gas mixture is called syngas (from

synthesis gas or synthetic gas) or producer gas and is

itself a fuel. The power derived from gasification of

biomass and combustion of the resultant gas is

considered to be a source of renewable energy; the

gasification of fossil fuel derived materials such as

plastic is not considered to be renewable energy.

II. BIOMASS

Biomass is carbon, hydrogen and oxygen based.

Biomass energy is derived from five distinct energy

sources: garbage, wood, waste, landfill gases,

and alcohol fuels. Wood energy is derived both from

direct use of harvested wood as a fuel and from wood

waste streams. The largest source of energy from wood

is pulping liquor or “black liquor,” a waste product from

processes of the pulp, paper and paperboard industry.

Waste energy is the second-largest source of biomass

energy. The main contributors of waste

energy are municipal solid waste (MSW),

manufacturing waste, and landfill gas. Biomass alcohol

fuel, or ethanol, is derived primarily

from sugarcane and corn. It can be used directly as a

fuel or as an additive to gasoline. Biomass can be

converted to other usable forms of energy like methane

gas or transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.

III. GASIFICATION OF CHARCOAL

1. The dehydration or drying process occurs at around

100°C. Typically the resulting steam is mixed into

the gas flow and may be involved with subsequent

chemical reactions, notably the water-gas reaction if

the temperature is sufficiently high enough.

2. The pyrolysis (or devolatilization) process occurs at

around 200-300°C. Volatiles are released and char

is produced, resulting in up to 70% weight loss for

coal. The process is dependent on the properties of

the carbonaceous material and determines the

structure and composition of the char, which will

then undergo gasification reactions.

3. The combustion process occurs as the volatile

products and some of the char reacts with oxygen to

primarily form carbon dioxide and small amounts

of carbon monoxide, which provides heat for the

subsequent gasification reactions. Letting C

represent a carbon-containing organic compound,

the basic reaction here is

4. The gasification process occurs as the char reacts

with carbon and steam to produce carbon monoxide

and hydrogen, via the reaction

5. In addition, the reversible gas phase water gas shift

reaction reaches equilibrium very fast at the

Special Issue of International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (IJACTE)

ISSN (Print) : 2319 – 2526, Volume-2, Issue-1, 2013

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temperatures in a gasifier. This balances the

concentrations of carbon monoxide, steam, carbon

dioxide and hydrogen.

IV. ADVANTAGES OF GASIFICATION

The advantage of gasification is that using the

syngas is potentially more efficient than direct

combustion of the original fuel because it can be

combusted at higher temperatures or even in fuel cells,

so that the thermodynamic upper limit to the efficiency

defined by Carnot's rule is higher or not applicable.

Syngas may be burned directly in gas engines, used to

produce methanol and hydrogen, or converted via the

Fischer-Tropsch process into synthetic fuel. Gasification

can also begin with material which would otherwise

have been disposed of such as biodegradable waste. In

addition, the high-temperature process refines out

corrosive ash elements such as chloride and potassium,

allowing clean gas production from otherwise

problematicfuels.

Fig : Shows various zone of Gasifier

V. TYPES OF GASIFIER

counter-current fixed bed

co-current fixed bed

fluidized bed

entrained flow

plasma

free radical

VI. RICE HUSK GASIFIER

Rice husk will be main fuel material of Rice husk

gasifier power generation plants, the analysis of rice

husk is given as an example.

VII. STRUCTURE OF RICE HUSK GASIFIER SYSTEM

The gasification system includes:

1. Feeder

2. Circulation fluidized bed gasifier

3. Cyclone separator

4. Air pre heater

5. Blower

6. Induced draft fan

7. Ash device

8. Automatic controlling device

VIII. TECHNOLOGY ROUTE

The Technology Route adopt combination of

circulation fluidized bed gasification furnace and

internal combustion engine to achieve utilization of rice

husk resource. Meanwhile, according to clients demand,

surplus heat boiler will be used for collect the surplus

heat of fuel gas and exhaust gas from generator,

finishing comprehensive utilization of energy.

IX. PROCESS

As shown, the gasifier is a small unit with 40-cm

diameter reactor equipped with 3-in., 220-volt electric

blower to provide the air needed in gasifying rice husks

to produce carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2)

gases. Rice husk is fed at the top end of the reactor

either manually using a ladder or with the use of a

bucket elevator. On the other hand, char is removed

from beneath the char box using a screw conveyor. The

gas coming out of the reactor is conditioned by allowing

it to pass through the gas-cleaning devices which

consisted of wet scrubbers, tar condenser, and a series of

packed and bag filters. The gas is fueled to a 3-cylinder,

12-valve surplus Susuki engine which directly drive a

10-kWe AC synchronous generator at a speed of 1,800

rpm producing 220 volt current. A total of 160 pieces of

50-watt bulbs can be energized by the plant for 8 to 10

hours continuous operation. The plant consumes rice

husks at an average rate of 19 kg per hour. The gas

temperature coming out of the reactor ranges from 400

to 550°C. It dropped between 50 to 70°C after passing

the wet scrubbers, and further cooled down between 35

to 42°C before entering the intake manifold of the

engine. Gas flow rate is at 24 Nm3 per hour. The engine

is entirely fueled by the gas generated, except at the

start-up and at the end of the operation. Furthermore, a

parasitic load of 15% of the power output is needed to

run the plant itself.

Special Issue of International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (IJACTE)

ISSN (Print) : 2319 – 2526, Volume-2, Issue-1, 2013

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PICS

Fig : Shows rice husk gasifier

X. ADVANTAGE OF RICE HUSK GASIFIER SYSTEM

The advantage features of the gasifier system are:

(1) It makes use of available wastes in rural areas to

fuel engines that usually drive Generators.

(2) The tar problem which is common among

conventional rice husk gasifier systems is

eliminated in this gasifier technology.

(3) Operation can be done continuously without the

need to restart the reactor;

(4) It can easily be adopted with surplus spark-ignition

engine that is readily available in the locality.

(5) The technology can be locally produced making use

of available fabrication resources and skills.

(6) It can be scaled up to meet the power demand of a

certain community or application.

(7) Investment and operation costs are at the reach of

the local community.

XI. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

Rice husk belong to renewable clean energy.

Environment protection and clean biomass energy is

sole renewable energy that can be converted to clean

fuel materials. Hazardous Substances from

straw(S&Ash ) content is 90% less than bituminous

coal. The emission and absorption of Carbon compose

carbon circulation in nature, achieving CO2 Zero

emission. Practice has proved that biomass energy play

a notable role in reducing CO2 emission.

XII. A 2MW RICE HUSK GASIFICATION POWER

GENERATION PROJECT

12.1 Brief Introduction of Project

In order to save energy, reduce pollution, extensive

use local rich biomass resources, circulation fluidized

bed gasification power generation technology,

converting biomass to green electricity. Power plant will

not discharge pollution due to adopt biomass as fuel

materials. Biomass resource achieve high efficiency

utilization In order to best using rice husk resource, we

intent to collocate one set of 2mw circulation fluidized

bed biomass gasification furnace, 2set purification

system 5set fuel gas genset engine for this project to

supply heat, electricity. Gasification furnace gasified

biomass into fuel gas, which access to purification

system for removing dust, tar and other impurity.

12.2 Technology Route

The Technology Route adopt combination of

circulation fluidized bed gasification furnace and

internal combustion engine to achieve utilization of rice

husk resource. Meanwhile, according to clients demand,

surplus heat boiler will be used for collect the surplus

heat of fuel gas and exhaust gas from generator,

finishing comprehensive utilization of energy. The

figure is below: F1 2MW Diagram of Circulation

fluidized bed gasification power generation, gas supply

system

12.3 Gasification reaction of rice husk

Rice husk access to circulation fluidized bed

gasification furnace through Feeder. Under high-

Special Issue of International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (IJACTE)

ISSN (Print) : 2319 – 2526, Volume-2, Issue-1, 2013

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temperature, recycling and heating materials, rice husk

in gasifier meet air accessing from bottom so that

hydrogenation & gasification reaction occurred, and rice

husk converted into fuel gas. The element of fuel gas:

CO、H2、CH4 etc. Calorific value: 1450kcal/ m3

approximately. Moreover, including a little tar. Through

innovated fuel gas purification technology, dust, tar

included in fuel gas is effectively treated and collect to

completely achieve the demand of internal combustion.

XIII. CONCLUSION

With the increasing industrialization and rapid

population growth non renewable fuels are rapidly

getting consumed, which may lead to risk of energy

shortage in the future, but a definite solution to it is the

use of renewable source. Biomass is conversion of waste

to energy. India being a major agricultural country rice

husk gasifiers produce a change in the energy scenario

of the country.

XIV. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to thank School of Electrical

Engineering, KIIT University for providing necessary

experimental platform for research and analysis for the

completion of the paper.

XV. REFERENCES

[1] National Non-Food Crops Centre. "Review of

Technologies for Gasification of Biomass and

Wastes, NNFCC 09-008", Retrieved on 2011-06-24

[2] The Clean and Renewable Energy Source,

www.biomass.uk.com, accessed 16.05.11

[3] Thermal Gasification of Biomass, International Energy

Agency Task 33, www.gastechnology.org, accessed

16.05.11

[4] Clean Renewable Fuel from the Plasma Gasification of

Waste, www.waste-management-world.com, Accessed

16.05.2011

[5] Gas Generator Project History of the Gasogene

technology

[6] Beychok, M.R., Process and environmental technology

for producing SNG and liquid fuels, U.S. EPA report

EPA-660/2-75-011, May 1975

[7] Beychok, M.R., Coal gasification for clean energy,

Energy Pipelines and Systems, March 1974

[8] Beychok, M.R., Coal gasification and the Phenosolvan

process, American Chemical Society 168th National

Meeting, Atlantic City, September 1974.