Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Available at www.sciencedirect.com
Article history: For a given set of operating conditions, the hydrogen production from biomass gasification
Received 20 June 2009 can be improved through optimization of the operating parameters and efficiencies. The
Received in revised form present approach can predict hydrogen production via biomass gasification in a range of
8 August 2009 10–32 kg/s from biomass (sawdust wood). The biomass is introduced to a gasifier at an
Accepted 9 August 2009 operating temperature range of 1000–1500 K. Also, 4.5 kg/s of steam at 500 K is used as
Available online 3 September 2009 gasification medium. Results indicate that improvement in hydrogen production from
biomass steam gasification depending on the amount of steam and quantity of biomass
Keywords: feeding to the gasifier as well the operating temperature. Over the range of feeding
Biomass biomass, the hydrogen yield reaches 80–130 g H2/kg biomass while in the operating
Hydrogen temperature examined, the hydrogen yield reaches 80 g H2/kg biomass. On mole basis it is
Thermodynamics found that, in the first range of H2 varies from 51 to 63% in the studied range of feeding
Energy biomass in existing 4.5 kg/s from steam while H2 gets to 51–53% in existing of 6.3 kg/s from
Exergy steam.
Efficiency ª 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
* Corresponding author.
E-mail addresses: Abdussalam.Abuadala@uoit.ca (A. Abuadala), Ibrahim.Dincer@uoit.ca (I. Dincer), Greg.Naterer@uoit.ca (G.F.
Naterer).
0360-3199/$ – see front matter ª 2009 Professor T. Nejat Veziroglu. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.08.025
4982 international journal of hydrogen energy 35 (2010) 4981–4990
gasification in existing of air–steam agent and in view of 1st law pyrolysis, char-gasification, char-oxidation and ash forma-
of thermodynamics. They observed that an increasing of the tion. The gasification steps are theoretically modeled in series
gasifier pressure reduces the hydrogen yield and the highest but there is no sharp boundary between them and they often
hydrogen yield occurred at atmospheric pressure. Hanaoka et al. overlap. The gasification reaction in principle involves carbon,
[12] gasified wood to produce hydrogen in existing of CO2 carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane.
sorbent. The conducted experiments showed that the results Hydrogen is expected to be the most important energy carrier
were affected by the pressure. However, they reported super in a sustainable energy system. Turn et al. [28] reported there
atmospheric pressure results a low H2 yield. Therefore, the was no emphasis on hydrogen production by past experi-
present study will be performed on biomass gasification at the mental work done on steam gasification of biomass but this
atmospheric pressure, in view of the two laws of thermody- work is theoretical and will emphasize hydrogen production.
namics and in an existing of pure steam medium. To model an approach for the gasification process of
Gasification is an endothermic process. Therefore heat is biomass, it is important to know biomass properties, specifi-
needed to sustain the gasification process. The process could cally, the proximate and the ultimate analysis and its heating
be either auto-thermal or all-thermal depending on how this value. The biomass has higher carbon–hydrogen ratio and
heat is provided. In case of auto-thermal gasification, the significantly lower sulfur and nitrogen contents. The lower
necessary heat is generated directly by partial oxidation in the sulfur and nitrogen contents make potentials to pollutants are
gasifier itself [25]. neutral or very low. The biomass is considered neutral
World wide increasing in energy consumption will leave resource regarding CO2 life cycle. Modeling approach for
impact on carbon emission and depletion of fossil fuel. Efforts a hydrogen production from biomass gasification through
were directed to use substantial resources and one of them is a parametric study aims to calculate hydrogen from gas-
renewable energy as a feasible solution. Biomass classified as ificating amount of biomass in existing amount of gasification
the third energy source after coal and oil [30]. It is renewable agent conduct the gasification reaction and heat required. The
and neutral concerning to carbon dioxide emission issue. The later parameter is taken in consideration by assuming the
level of utilization of biomass to produce hydrogen depends gasifier is self-heated.
on economics and availability of the necessary technology. A good approach can find the optimum conditions which
Gasification of biomass to produce hydrogen as energy carrier lead to appreciable hydrogen product from the gasified
is a part of the effort to combat this threat. The gasification biomass. A performed parametric study in the used biomass
process consists of following steps: pre-heating, drying, and steam range will help in identifying the more sensitive
international journal of hydrogen energy 35 (2010) 4981–4990 4983
parameters to the hydrogen yield and feasibility of hydrogen gasified at high temperatures where its particles undergo
production via biomass gasification from 1st and 2nd laws of partial oxidation resulting in gas, tar and char products.
thermodynamics views. This study applies to a self-heated Finally it is reduced to form H2, CO, CO2 and CH4. This
gasifier to study the characteristics of hydrogen production conversion process can be expressed in a global reaction. The
from biomass gasification. global reaction is given by the following reaction:
The gasifier considers a heart of the gasification process.
Recently and beside to what mentioned above, Mahishi et al. aCl Hm On þ gH2 O þ heat/aH2 þ bCO þ cCO2 þ dCH4 þ eC
[21] reported that until their research, no study had address- þ f Tar (1)
ing a hydrogen production by theoretical analysis of the
ClHmOnis the chemical representation of biomass. l, m and n
gasifier. In this study, scheme utilizes equilibrium reactions to
are the number of atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in
describe the gasification process is proposed. It is used to
the feedstock respectively determined from the ultimate
simulate hydrogen from biomass steam gasification.
analysis of biomass; a is the amount of biomass; and g is the
The study enables the designers to predict the effects of
amount of supplied steam. a, b, c, d, e and f are the number of
many parameters with partial or without any experimental
moles of H2, CO, CO2, CH4, C and tar respectively. The numbers
data. The validity of results can be confirmed only through
of mole are found from the following atomic balance equa-
experimental verification. This study mainly explored the
tions and proposed models for tar and char.
influence of different parameters on hydrogen production
from biomass steam gasification in a self-heated gasifier. C : al ¼ b þ c þ d þ e þ 6f (2)
H : am þ 2g ¼ 2a þ 4d þ 6f (3)
2. Modeling of biomass gasification process
O : an þ g ¼ b þ 2c (4)
2.1. Assumptions
N¼ aþbþcþdþeþf (5)
The assumptions used in simulating the biomass gasification
The gasification process is applicable to biomass having
process are:
moisture content less than 35% [5]. In case of higher moisture
content, the biomass undergoes drying or pre-heating
Steady flow.
process, this; however, increases the energy required for
Potential and kinetic energies are negligible.
gasification process as well as decreases the gasification effi-
Environment and reference state at T0 ¼ 298 K and
ciency. Ni et al. [23] reported to gasify biomass in a supercrit-
P0 ¼ 1 atm.
ical water condition for biomass has a higher moisture
Gases except H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 are considered dilute.
content and reaching 100% gasification ratio.
Ash residue behind gasification process is negligible.
The assumption made by Fryda et al. [9] to treat un-reacted
The gases obey the ideal gas relations.
char will be applied, such that un-reacted char is 5% of the
The gasifier is isothermal and at equilibrium condition.
biomass carbon content or;
The product gases are at the gasifier temperature.
Assume residence time is sufficient to reach the gasifier the e ¼ 0:05al (6)
equilibrium mode.
Here, Tar is undesirable product from biomass gasification
Use the schematic diagram shown in Fig. 1 to represent
due to the various problems of fouling and slugging in the
a gasifier.
process equipment. Although there are hundreds of species in
the tar sample in order to simplify the analysis all the species
2.2. Reaction mechanism are treated as a single one lump [20]. Currently, three methods
are available to minimize tar formation [23]: (i) proper design
Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are the major components in of gasifier, (ii) proper control and operation and (iii) additives/
biomass. These and negligible elements like sulfur and catalysts. Tar is modeled as benzene compound [14] with the
nitrogen represented as ultimate analysis. The chemical chemical formula C6H6 and its yield is assumed obeying the
formula of biomass is represented by ClHmOn. Biomass is empirical relation developed by Corella et al. (1989) [4] as
follows:
Gas+Char+Tar
Tar ¼ 35:98 expð0:0029TÞ (7)
a2 N
K¼ (9)
Fig. 1 – Schematic diagram used to represent a gasifier. d
4984 international journal of hydrogen energy 35 (2010) 4981–4990
Also in the equilibrium state and for the ideal gas, the 2.4. Energetic efficiencies
equilibrium constant can be found in terms of free Gibbs
function, G from the following equation; Also it is known as first law efficiency. The gasification process
is similar to any process and it has to satisfy the first law of
DG thermodynamics which describes energy conservation and it
K ¼ exp (10)
RT is given by:
X X
where R is the universal gas constant (8.314 kJ kmol1 K1). H H ¼ Qlost (14)
The system of equations is solved simultaneously to find the R P
unknowns, a, b, c and d. where H is the enthalpy, Qlost is the energy lost during the
Jarungthammachote et al. [17] pointed to minimize the gasification process and sub-symbols R and P refer to reac-
Gibbs free energy constrained optimization methods are tants and products respectively. In this paper, two forms of
generally used which requires an understanding of complex energetic efficiencies, hEn1 and hEn2, are applied as follows:
mathematical theories. Thus to simplify the analysis, instead
equilibrium relations were used in modeled approach. EnH2
hEn1 ¼ (15)
Enbiomass þ Ensteam
Table 2 – Standard chemical exergy for different Table 3 – The coefficients used in constant specific heat
components. empirical equation.
Component Standard chemical Enthalpy of Gas a0 b0 c0 d0
exergy (kJ/kmol) formation (kJ/kmol)
CO 28.16 0.1675 102 0.5372 105 2.222 109
CH4 831,650 74,850 CO2 22.26 5.981 102 3.501 105 7.469 109
CO 275,100 110,530 H2O 32.24 0.1923 102 1.055 105 3.595 109
H 2O 9,500 241,820 H2 29.11 0.1916 102 0.4003 105 0.8704 109
H2 236,100 0.0 CH4 19.89 5.2040 102 1.269 105 11.01 109
C 410,260 0.0
C6H6 3,303,600 82,930
h ¼ hOf þ Dh (25)
2.6. External gasifier losses
The enthalpy rise and the entropy rise due to temperature
are function of temperature and they obey the ideal gas laws. Frequently, losses from gasifier to the ambient are negligible
The enthalpy of formation, hOf for the product gases is given in comparing to the energy entering or leaving the gasifier. De
Table 2. Specific heat, CP is constant pressure specific heat in Souza-Santos [6] reported these losses are around 1–2% of the
kJ/(kmol k) and for gases is function of gasifier temperature power input due to the biomass. However to maintain more
and is given by the following empirical equation: accurate results from this study, these losses are taken in
consideration. The energy lost due to transferred heat to the
CP ¼ a0 þ b0 T þ c0 T2 þ d0 T3 (26)
environment, Qlostwa is calculated from:
The coefficients, a0 , b0 , c0 and d0 of different gases are
Qlostwa ¼ Uwa ðTw To Þ (30)
summarized in Table 3 [3].
The specific heat of tar in coal gasification was developed The overall heat transfer coefficient, Uwa between the
by Hyman et al. [15] and modified by Lowry [19]. Same equa- external gasifier wall at a temperature Tw and the ambient at
tion will be used for derived tar from biomass gasification and a temperature To estimated by the following empirical relation
in kJ/kgtar K: given by Isachenko et al. [16]:
4986 international journal of hydrogen energy 35 (2010) 4981–4990
kins
Uwa ðTw To Þ ¼ ðT Tw Þ (32)
xins
The exergy destruction due to the energy lost from the
gasifier wall is:
Fig. 3 – Produced hydrogen and gasification ratio from
T0 different quantities of sawdust wood.
Exdeswa ¼ Qlostwa 1 (33)
Tw
Fig. 2 – Produced hydrogen from different quantities of Fig. 4 – Produced hydrogen from 20 kg/s of sawdust wood
sawdust wood. exists in varying amount of steam.
international journal of hydrogen energy 35 (2010) 4981–4990 4987
Fig. 5 – Effect of gasifier temperature on gas concentration Fig. 7 – Exergy efficiency versus gasified wood gasifier at
for 32 kg/s from sawdust wood and 4.5 kg/s from steam. a gasifier temperature of 1500 K.
3.2. Effect of supplied steam Fig. 6 shows process irreversibility or destructed exergy from
exergy flow in with wood when gasifier temperature is 1000 K
The results of the parametric steam amount are shown in and 4.5 kg/s of steam is supplied. As can be seen there is an
Fig. 4. Steam was increased from 4.5 to 6.3 kg/s in increment of increase in exergy destruction and this is due to an increase in
w0.18 while holding fuel quantity in the gasifier and gasifier the internal entropy generation. In the studied biomass range,
temperature constant, 20 kg/s and 1000 K respectively. exergy destruction due to thermal losses was unchanged
Hydrogen in the product gases increased from 54 to 57% and because thermal losses from the gasifier were same; therefore
carbon monoxide concentrations decreased from 25 to 16%. the only reason for the increase is the internal entropy
Carbon dioxide concentration exhibited as opposing trend, generation.
increasing from 16 to 22%. The improvement in hydrogen
content and gas yield resulted in an increase in hydrogen yield 3.5. Process energy and exergy efficiencies
by 3% on mole basis.
Three exergetic efficiencies were defined in the analysis
3.3. Effect of gasifier operating temperature section above and according to the desired outputs and
plotted in Fig. 7. The exergy efficiency, hEx1 and presented by
It was studied in a range of 1000–1500 K. The wood was 32 kg/s dotted line and that considers hydrogen production is
and steam 4.5 kg/s. The increase in temperature led to similar decreased as biomass increases and that because there is
trend of hydrogen yield. Over the temperature range some
differences in gas yields were obtained. The gas composition
Fig. 6 – Destroyed exergy and content exergy in sawdust Fig. 8 – Specific entropy generation at a gasifier
wood at 1000 K and 4.5 kg/s from steam. temperature of 1500 K.
4988 international journal of hydrogen energy 35 (2010) 4981–4990
3.6. Comparisons
[20] Lv P, Yuan Z, Ma L, Wu C, Yong Ca, Zhub J. Hydrogen-rich gas [26] Schuster G, Löffler G, Weigl K, Hofbauer H. Biomass steam
production from biomass air and oxygen/steam gasification gasification – an extensive parametric modeling study.
in a downdraft gasifier. Renew Energy 2007;32:2173–85. Bioresour Technol 2001;77:71–9.
[21] Mahishi MR, Goswami DY. Thermodynamic optimization of [27] Szargut J, Morris DR, Steward FR. Exergy analysis of thermal,
biomass gasifier for hydrogen production. Int J Hydrogen chemical and metallurgical processes. In: Pellegrini LF,
Energy 2007;32:3831–40. Oliveira Jr S. Exergy analysis of sugarcane bagasse
[22] Moran MJ, Shapiro HN. Fundamentals of engineering gasification. Energy 2007;32:314–27.
thermodynamics. USA: John Wiley, Inc; 2007. [28] Turn S, Kinoshita C, Zhang Z, Ishimura D, Zhou J.
[23] Ni M, Leung DYC, Leung MKH, Sumathy K. An overview of An experimental investigation of hydrogen production
hydrogen production from biomass. Fuel Process Technol from biomass gasification. Int J Hydrogen Energy 1998;23:
2006;87:461–72. 641–8.
[24] Prins MJ, Ptasinski KJ, Janssen FJG. Thermodynamics of gas– [29] Walawender WP, Hoveland DA, Fan LT. Steam gasification of
char reactions: first and second law analysis. Chem Eng Sci pure cellulose. 1. Uniform temperature profile. Ind Eng Chem
2003;58:1003–11. Process Des Dev 1985;24:813–7.
[25] Rezaiyan J, Cheremisinoff NP. Gasification technologies [30] Werther J, Sanger M, Hartage EU, Ogada T, Siagi Z.
a primer for engineers and scientists. USA: Taylor & Francis Combustion of agricultural residues. Prog Energy Combust
Group, CRC Press; 2005. Sci 2000;26:1–27.