European Green Deal: An Experimental Study of the Biomass Filtration Combustion in a Downdraft Gasifier

Abstract

This study presents the experimental results obtained from hybrid filtration combustion using biomass pellets. The experiments were carried out using a porous media gasifier filled with pellets and inert material. The gasifying agent used was an air–steam mixture, with 40% being steam. The dependence of the temperature in the gasifier’s reaction zone from the volume percentage of inert porous material in the gasifier, the specific heat capacity of this material, as well as the air–steam blowing rate, was investigated. The multifactor experiment method was used. A maximum temperature of 1245 °C was achieved using 28 vol% of porous material with a heat capacity of 1000 J/(kg·°C) and at a blowing rate of 42 m3/h. The maximum hydrogen content in the syngas was 28 vol%. This was achieved at an air–steam blowing rate of 42 m3/h and 40 vol% porous material, with a heat capacity of 1000 J/(kg·°C). The calorific value of the syngas was 12.6 MJ/m3. The highest CO content in the gas was 28 vol% and was obtained at 20 vol% porous material with a heat capacity of 1000 J/(kg·°C) and a blowing rate of 42 m3/h. The obtained information is applicable in the design, management, and control of gas production by way of a hybrid filtration combustion process in a downdraft gasifier.