Biomass gasifiers developments

Recently two feedstock databases have been established where a significant amount of information is provided for a variety of biomass feedstocks (27, 28). In the databases, the basic physico-chemical properties of biomass fuels can be found which will provide basic information to gasifier developers as well as gasifier users on the quality and suitability of the various fuels for the gasification technologies they either develop or use. 

Abatzoglou, N., et al., (1999) The development of a draft protocol for the sampling and analysis of particulate and organic contaminants in the gas from small biomass gasifiers. In Biomass and Bioenergy, Vol. 18. 5-17. Pergamon, Oxford. 

Abatzoglou, N. Barker, N, Hasler, Ph., Knoef, H. (1998) The Development of a Draft Protocol for the Sampling and Analysis of Particulate and Organic Contaminants in the Gas from Small Biomass Gasifiers, Provisional Protocol, version 98. Prepared of the lEA Bioenergy Agreement. Version 1.1 for discussion and comment. 

In one of the three different models developed by Corella and co-workers for FB biomass gasifiers, the elemental analysis or formula (Ccres Hhjies Oqres) of the pyrolysed char and tarl (to be called residue, RES) formed in the pyrolysis step has to be known. It can be easily calculated by mass balances for each element (C, H, O) from the elemental analysis of the biomass (Ca Hg Oc) and the amounts of gases, char + tarl, and H2O generated in the pyrolysis step, calculated from eqn, 8 and values in Table 2 or similar ones. 

NOVEM (1995) Development of standard procedures for gas quality in biomass gasifier-producer generation systems, JOU2-CT93-0408, contract number 355200/2130, p.ll8,... 

This research is being performed in two phases evaluation of pressure drop and flow characteristics of cold flow models of the filter and collection efficiency tests with a pilot-scale filter coupled to a 4.S tonne per day biomass gasifier. In this paper we describe three fluid dynamic design features developed in the cold flow model that improve performance of the Alter. 

The need for retrofit devices to convert biomass materials to combustible fuel gas is well established. Several developers have built and operated successful biomass gasifiers, for example the systems reported by the University of California-Davis and Georgia Tech Engineering Experiment Station. 

On the basis of this cursory analysis, vehicle-mounted biomass gasifiers as well as alcohol fuels appear to us to represent possible means to reduce petroleum fuel use in developing nations. Biomass availability for use as a fuel, however, could restrict the use of the option to only a few LDCs. 

The gasification techniques can be distinguished related to different criteria such as reactor type (fixed bed or fluidized bed), gasifying agerrt (air, oxygen, or steam), heat supply (directly or indirectly heated), and reactor pressiue (atmospheric or pressrrrized). Over the years, a considerable variety of biomass gasifiers have been developed. 

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