Theory of Gasification
Gasification is a thermal process that converts biomass, such as wood waste, into useful energy forms like combustible gas, charcoal, and oils through partial combustion at high temperatures (around 1,000°C). The reactor used for gasification is called a gasifier.
Gasification Process
- Combustion vs. Gasification:
- Complete Combustion: Involves the complete oxidation of biomass, resulting in gases like nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and excess oxygen.
- Gasification: Involves incomplete combustion, which yields a product gas containing carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H₂), and traces of methane, along with non-useful products such as tar and dust.
Products of gasifiers
The design of the gasifier aims to achieve the following:
- Reduction of biomass to charcoal.
- Conversion of charcoal into CO and H₂ at optimal temperatures.
- Typically, the volumetric composition of biomass-based producer gas is as follows:
