The Effect of Temperature-Pressure Conditions on the RDF Gasification in the Atmosphere of Steam and Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

This research aimed to assess the process conditions, temperature and pressure, on the gasification of alternative refuse-derived fuel (RDF) in the atmosphere of steam and carbon dioxide on a laboratory scale using a fixed bed reactor. For this reason, the selected RDF were analysed, including proximate and ultimate analysis, mercury content and ash composition. After that, isothermal gasification measurements using the thermovolumetric method were performed under various temperatures (700, 750, 800, 900 °C) and pressures (0.5, 1, 1.5 MPa), using steam and carbon dioxide as gasifying agents. The obtained results showed that in the entire analysed range, the increase in temperature positively affect both the steam and CO2 gasification of RDF. The formation rates of main components (H2 and/or CO) of the resulting gas, as well as yields of gas components and maximum carbon conversion degrees increase. However, this positive effect was the greater, the lower the process pressure was. In turn, the effect of pressure was more complex. In the case of RDF steam gasification, an increase in pressure had a negative effect on the process, while when using carbon dioxide as a gasifying agent, an improvement of most analysed parameters was observed; however, only at low temperatures, 700–750 °C.