CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1. Pakistan is an agriculture based economy Country and agriculture as its back bone
there is a large of biomass source in the form of agricultural waste that goes waste
each year. This Biomass can be processed and used in a way to provide power to SI
and CI engines in any installments. The target is to utilize energy from bio mass as
wood chips and agricultural waste to produce energy. The energy is in the form of a
combustible gas called syn gas which can be utilized as a heat source for cooking or
for electric power production which is a basic need for Emergency requirements
when there is scarcity of fuel for vehicles during war and static applications during
peace time. I have designed a stratified downdraft gasifier which would produce syn
gas from wood. This combustible gas is designed to be used as a fuel to run a 15
kva engine generator set. Syn gas will pass through different processes which will
clean and cool the gas.
2. The gasifier is a unit which provides conditions for non-stoichiometric combustion of
wood. The wood is burned in controlled conditions to produce wood gas. There are
four zones in a gasifier Drying, Pyrolysis, Oxidation and Reduction zone.The gas will
then go to a cyclone filter in which removal of solid particulates from the syn gas will
occur. This works on the principle of centrifugal swirl.
3. The gas will pass through a fabric filter which will further clean it.In water scrubber
water is sprayed with high pressure on oncoming syn gas this will clean the gas from
tar and cool it as well. The centrifugal effect here will remove excess of water which
would travel with the gas. Blower will suck the gas from the system but it will be
bypassed when the engine generator set will start as it will draw gas from the system
in place of the blower.The conditioned gas will then be mixed with air and then be fed
to the engine-generator set for power production. If we wish to use the gas for
heating purpose then we can draw it just after the cyclone filter.

CHAPTER 2

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Early Devopments
1.

In 1798 Gasification process was discovered in France and England

independently and till 1850 this technology was developed to such point that it was
possible to light much of United Kingdom with this Producer gas. During World War I
small gasifiers were developed to operate vehicles, trains, boats and generators.
During the year 1939 in Europe approximately one million gasifiers were developed
to operate vehicles. During the World War II era there was great deal of interest in all
different form of alternative fuel due to shortage of conventional fuel. By 1943 in
Sweden more than 90% of vehicles were being powered by Syn gas and at the end
of War there were more than 700,000 vehicles that were operated on Producer gas.

2.

After OPEC oil embargo of 1973 the united states Stopped working and

funding Biomass projects. All the struggles that was carried out to do research and
development on wood gas was on individual bases , some under developed
countries continued to work in it with a vision to solve their energy problems.
Producer gas from charcoal was developed in Philippine and more than 1000 units
started operating, In Brazil 30 large units were developed in which producer gas is
generated for industrial heat.
3.

We dont know our future condition, our priorities change drastically in case of

emergency. As it had been taken place during world war era in which transportation
is very high priority in U.S and due to which wood gassifier vehicles were developed,
during that tenure the U.S department of defense disseminated information on small
gassifier in case of national emergency. Now lets have brief look upon the
contribution of under developed countries in the field of biomass gassification.Uptill
now our neighbours have crossed the milestone in this field.Indian Institute of
Technology, Delhi,Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore these all dedicated their work
to Biomass gassification.In 1990s first small scale gassifier was developed but after
that drastically the progress graph reached at apex limit.

Developing Countries

4. Now india is exporting gassifier power plants upto 250kw.Hundreds of gassifier are
fabricating (3 to 250kw),industries have been developed,research on cleaning of gas
is almost complete and in central Asia india emerge as one of the leading country in
export of Biomass gassifier. An outstanding project in Sri Lanka(small scale gasifier)
Funded by a German emer-gency aid organization.It took one year in order

to

control soot and tar contents ,due to the wet gas and In the beginning cleaning
system had a number of problems but it was compensated by skilled engineer. By
2009 this small scale gasifier had been working well . This project was launched in
the

context

of

the

Tsunami

relief.

5. Biomass is a natural substance , in which in the presence of sunlight solar energy

is stored by the process of photosynthesis. It mainly contains:
a. Cellulose (it is an insoluble material that main constitute of plant cell,strong
and crystalline structure,resistant to hydrolysis).
b. hemicellulose (it is an insoluble material,having amorphous structure with
little strength,not resistant to hydrolysation even with dilute acid or base).
c. Lignin(complex chemical compound,integral part of secondary cell wall of
plant and most abundant organic polymer on Earth).
6.
Complete flow sheet of biomass conversion into different fuel cellulose:

Fig 2-1 Hemicellulose

Fig 2.2 Lignin

Fig 2.3 Photosynthesis chart

3.

Thermal conversion process for biomass involve following reaction Pyrolysis:

Biomass+ heat charcoal+oil gas

Gassification:
Biomass + limited amount of oxygen producer gas

Combustion: biomass + excess of oxygen hot combustion product

4. The first step in gasification process is pyrolysis in which in the absence of air
biomass is subjected to a temperature of 350 C
and the end product char
coal,gases(co,co2,H2,CH4,H2o) and tar vapors are produced.In order to better
understanding ofpyrolysis, gasification and combustion we have a example of match
stick burning.

Fig 2.4 Burning of a match stick

Fig 2.5 Thermo gravamatrical analysis

5.
Thermogravimetricanalysis(TGA) shows the complete analysis of a sample of
biomass when subjected to heated in the absence of air.The TGA is a simple
technique in which biomass is suspended in balance pan in furnace and temperature
is increased at known rate.Theoretically(stoichiometric combustion) the ratio of airto-fuelrequired for thecomplete combustionofthebiomass, is 6:1 to 6.5.
As
gasification is the process in which the combustion is carried at sub-stoichiometric
conditions and the air-to-fuel ratio is 1.5:1 to 1.8:1.4
6.
The gas that is obtained by supply this limited amount of air is known as
producer gas or syn gas, which is combustible and the device which made this
process possible is called gasifier. This producer gas contain 70% to 90% energy
content and some thermal properties of typical biomass and producer gas are shown
in table:

Typical properties of producer gas:

Relative position of carbon,hydrogen
and oxygen in solid,liquid and
gaseous phase chemical changes
that have been taken place during
biomass conversion is shown by
phase diagrams

Fig 2.6 Phase diagram

Thermodynamics of Gassification
7.

The adiabatic temperature of biomass is the temperature that would reached

if any biomass come to equilbrium with specific amount of oxygen/air(As it is

impossible to achieve equilbrum but some close state can be achieve in downdraft
gassifier).The oxygen used in process is used to determine the temperature of
reaction and product.The oxygen is plotted as equivalence ratio(the used oxygen
relative that required for complete oxidation).Very low value of oxygen needed for
pyrolysis

Fig 2.7 Equivalent ratio of oxygen for pyrolysis

8.

Equivalence ratio of 0.25 is aproximated for gassificationand Combustion has

been taken place for greater than 1.Adiabatic reaction temperature of biomass
reacting with oxygen and air. As shown in above graph that with oxygen less than
0.25 the char is not converted completely and with value more than 0.25 the
combustion takesplace so the ideal value for equivalence ratiois 0.25 but how we
can achieve that value?yes it is possible for static bed,so for fixed bed gassifier
equivalence ratio of 0.25

is achievable.The composition of gas produced is

shown,Equilibrium gas composition for reaction of air The amount of energy

remaining in the char and converted from solid to gas is shown and The low heating
value of gas and energy per volume of gas is shown

Fig 2.8 Percentage of different gases produced by gasification

Fig 2.9 Equivalence ratio of air req for gasification

As we know gasification is the process in which solid carbon whether in the

form of coal,coke, or char, the principle chemical reactions involving carbon,carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, water (or steam), and methane.
9.

The reaction are given below:

Combustion reactions,
C + 1/2 02 = CO - IIIMJ/krnol

(1)

CO + 1/2 O2 = C02 -283 MJ/kmol

(2)

H2 + 1/2 O2 = H20 242 MJ/kmol (3)

Boudouard reaction is
C + CO2

= 2C0 +172 MJ/kmol (4)

water gas reaction is

C +H20 = CO + H2+l3l MJ/kmol (5)
And methanation reaction.
C +2 H2 S CH4 -75 Mllkmol (6)
The reaction 1,2and 3 doesnot need to be considered in equilbrium of syn gas
composition.
reactions 4, 5, and 6 are enough
CO shift reaction:
CO + H20 7 CO2 + H2 4l MJ/kmol (2-7)

CHAPTER 3
GASIFIER TYPES AND ITS APPLICATIONS
1.
Gasifiers are classified according to the requirement. Each type of gasifier is
used for a specific purpose. The processes of oxidation pyrolysis drying and
reduction is needed.

7. During the biomass gasification process biomass is pyrolized cracked or heated by

thermal energy and converted into a producer gas. As mentioned earlier this syn
gas is purified by different step and then used.

Fig 3.1 Gasification flow chart

Gasifiers
8. Biomass gasifiers is a unit that heates the biomassinalow-oxygen or produce
a gas) The syngas that is produced from a gasifier is used to drive highly
efficient devices for example genserator ets, turbines and fuel cells to
generate power.

Fig 3.2 Basic gasifier

TYPES OF GASIFIER
9. Fixed bed Gassifier. The fixed bed gasifier has usuallybed of solid fuel
particlesthroughwhichgas moveup or down. It consists of annulus tube tha

Fig 3.3 fixed bed gasifier

t contains fuel and it is then oxidized by giving an air inlet port at the point where we
need to have oxidation of the fuel. In the this typ5. e of gasifier, biomass moves
down thereactor as thegasification happenss. Fixed bed gasifiers are easy to
fabricate there is a problem of tar content in the gas. Which can be cleaned. Fixed

bed gasifiers are generally common. There are two common type of fixed bed
gassifier,depending upon the directionofga flow through main chamber
10. Updraft gassifier In updraft gaisifier the direction of draft of air is upward during the
gasification process. And the gas is exterated from a port which is at the top. And the
controlled air inlet is from below the grate.Flexibility of fuel is an advantage of updraft
gasifier and it can also accept cal as fuel and it can bear high content of ash and
high moisture level.Gasification takes place at the bottom. As the syn gas passes
through the fuel bed, it picks tars and moisture content from the fuel . So there are
condensable volatiles from the gas that get out from updraft gassifier. gas comes
out at usually 300-500C temperature.

Fig 3.4 Updraft gasifier

11. Downdraft Gasifiers Downdraft gasifiers are desiged for specific fuels to avoid
clogging of fuel in the reaction chamber. Downdraft wood gasifiers can only operate
good on wood like biomass material and gas is drawn from bottom of the grate and
may be above in case of double vessel as in our case. reaction takes place in the
middle. The gas from the downdraft gasifiers can be cooled and cleaned tovery high
purity by passing it through fabric filter or cooling unit then it can be used inIC
engines or for direct heating applications where purity of gas is a basic requirement.

Fig 3.5 Downdraft gasifier

a. Advantages of downdraft gasifier over updraft:

The updraft gasifier achieves the highest efficiecy as the hot gas
passes through fuel bed and leaves it at low temperature. The
sensible or hidden heat as given by gas is usually used to preheat and
dry fuel. One of the major disadvantages of updraft gassifier is that in
producer gas excessive amount of tar is present and poor loading
capability. Hence it is not suitable for running vehicle or could not be
used in ic engine..

8.

Fluidized Bed Gasifiers In this gasifier the biomass is brought to a bed of char or
sand where gasification takes place. This system is very expensive and delicate and
does not accommodate multiple fuels. Produces high tar and particulate . These are
used for larger scales production. Has high flow rates.Sometimes the fuel is fed from
side and sometimes from the above. During optimum gasification the fuel is
maintained at very high 1300-1800 F. When a fuel particle at this high temperature
is introduced into environment, gasification takes place..It is usually seen that the
temperature distribution across the

fluidized bed is mostly constant andnormal

ranges of temperature is between 700C and 900C. The large thermal or heating
capacity of inert or nascent bed material and in addition to the hard mixing related
with the fluid bed allow this system to deal with a much greater quantity and mostly
having fuel quality is usually a lower.

Fig 3.6 Fixed bed gasifier

CHAPTER 4
BIOMASS FUEL
1. Biomass issuch a fuel that is developed or produced from organic materials, one of
the renewable and sustainable source of energy used to produce cheaper electricity
or other different forms of power.The estimated biomass production in the world is
seen to be 146 billion tons a year, Some of the basic different types of biomass are:
a. scrap lumber
b. forest debris
c. certain crops
d. manure
2. Wood is one of the largest biomass energy source today which included most of
the forest residues such as:
a. dead trees
b. branches
c. tree stumps
d. yard clippings
e. wood chips
3. Industrial biomass is grown from different types of plants i.e
a. Mis canthus
b. Switch glass
c. hemp,
d. corn
e. poplar,
f. willow,
g. sorghum,
h. sugarcane
b. bamboo
4. As Green wood have up to 50% water by weight. so its properties or characteristics
vary mostly with moisture content. The chemical composition of typical biomass is
more constant than that of the different coals (bituminous, anthracite, lignite)
product. However more than 80% of the biomasses usually volatile but Coal is
typically only 20% volatile; which is more difficult to gasify than charcoal. Biomass
mostly has very low sulfur content and ash content compared to coal etc. However,
unlike coal, biomass comes in a different variety of physical forms, making it
necessary to accommodate according to the\shapes of the gasifier. So the resulting
gasifier design should t be very fuel-specic.
5. There are are two types of analysis:
a. Proximate analysis: The proximate analysisindirectly determines the
moisture (M),volatile matter [VM], ash (A). and xedcarbon content (C) of a
fuel, using standard ASTM tests.Moisture is analyzed by the weight loss is
usually observed at110C. . The high heating rates opposewithin an actual
gasier demanding a higher volatile contentand a lower fixed carbon
content than the slow rateasused in the ASTM measurement, but char get
fromthe component is expected to be directly proportional to char yield

from the ASTM test As shown in table given below that more than 70% of
most biomass material is volatile under the conditions of the test. The
proximate analysis usually includes moisture content measured on a
totally wet basis.
b. The ultimate analysis is only gives the chemical composition and the HHV
of the different fuels. The ultimate analysis generally gives the oxygen,
hydrogen, carbon nitrogen, and ash content of the dry fuel on a different
weight percentage basis. Following are the table shows different values of
moisture content of biomass by approximate analysis

Biomass potential in Pakistan

6. In Pakistan these days people are thinking to device long term economic policy due
to severe economic and social problems the electricity and gas shortages have badly
affected the common man, Industry and commercial activities. The high cost of
energy mix is the main reason behind the power shortage. Pakistan has potential in
biomass. As Pakistan is an agrarian economy with 60% rural work man ship. As per
World Bank statistics, more than around 26, 280, 000 hectares of land is undercultivation in a country like Pakistan

Agricultural Residues (reference fact and figures from

online news report)

7. Following are the crop residue that is common in Pakistan

a. Wheat straw
b. rice husk
c. rice straw
d. cane trash
e. bagasse
f. cotton sticks
8. Are some of the important and major crop residues in Pakistan. During 2010-2011,
the area under sugarcane cultivation was estimated around 1,029,000 hectares
which is more than 4% of the total cropped area. Cane trash which makes 10% of
the sugar cane is totally burned in the fields. During the year 2010-11, around more
than 63,920,000 metric tons of sugarcane was grown in this country which in turn
give trash generation of around more than 5,752,800 metric tons. It is estimated,
that the bioenergy potential of cane trash is around 9,475 GWh per year.Cotton is
another major and important corp in Pakistan and main and necessary source of
raw material to the local textile industry.
9. As it is estimated that cotton is grown on around more than 11% of the total cropped
area in the Pakistan. The main residue from cotton crop is cotton sticks which left
after cotton picking and constitute approximately 3 times of the cotton that
produced. Mostof the cottonsticks are used for domestic fuel in rural areas so only
one-fourth of the total can be considered as important biomass energy resource. The
production of cotton sticks during 2010-2011 was estimated 1,474,693 metric tons
which is considered equivalent to power generation potential of around more than
3,071 GWh.
10.
The PakistanPunjabprovince has a great potential to produce energy from
biomass.it is estimated that it can produced up to 5,400MW from
thebiomass.Entrepreneur and the Punjabgovernment are hindering and searching
foralternative energy sourcestoovercome this powershortage in the province,. The
provincehaslarge amount of biomass available in the shape of rice husk, ginning
waste, cotton waste, cotton stalks, wheat straw, cotton cob and wood chips.The
Interestinpowergeneration from rice husk was generated when it was heard that a
textile mill in our neighbor country is producing 5MW electricity from rice husk. The
study revealed that in our country rice husk has the potential to produce more than
600MW to 1,000MW per annum. The APTMAPunjab estimated that cotton wastehas

thepotential to produce more than 50-75MW.cotton stalk in the province canproduce

100-200MW of electricity. The sugarcane crop waste also has big potential to
generate electricity.It is estimated that our country has potential of 2,000-3,000MW
to produce electricity from sugar cane. The Punjab government estimated
thatwheatstraw could generate50-100MW, corncob 200-300MW and wood chips
100-300MW .

Fig 4.1 Potential in Pakistan

Fig 4.2 World Potential

Fig 4.3 World potential chart