Angela Trucco

BIOMASS GASIFICATION MODELLING: AN EQUILIBRIUM MODEL, MODIFIED TO REPRODUCE THE OPERATION OF ACTUAL REACTORS

This paper presents a modified equilibrium simulation model for biomass gasification performance prediction. The model, implemented in the Matlab-Simulink® environment, is able to calculate the reactor main operating parameters, such as reaction temperature, gas composition, gas flow rate and solid product (typically charcoal). The comparison of model output with experimental data puts in evidence the insufficient precision of equilibrium models, due to their incapability of taking into account the non equilibrium effects always present in the gasification process. To obtain a better prediction of measured values the pure equilibrium model has been modified on the basis of literature experimental data, introducing semi-empirical correlations with the aim to consider the most meaningful effects of non-equilibrium. The results demonstrate that this modification leads to an increased precision of the model in reproducing experimental data.Copyright