J. R. Goss

Optimum specific gasification rate for static bed rice hull gasifiers

Abstract An experimental determination of the optimum specific gasification rate for static bed rice hull gas producers was conducted for reactor diameters of 16–30 cm. All experiments were performed with reactors under suction from a throttled centrifugal blower. Cold-gas efficiency was observed to increase as specific gasification rate increased from 100 to about 200 kg m −2 h −1 , and then begin to decline as gasification rate was increased further. The decline in efficiency at higher gasification rates was due to decreasing gas heating value which could not be compensated by increasing gas flow. An empirical relationship derived between specific gasification rate and cold gas efficiency was found to be independent of reactor area, although further work is needed at larger scale to assess the validity of the relationship beyond the experimental range evaluated.

Development and field testing of small biomass gasifier-engine systems in india: A joint project by an american and indian team

Abstract Under a multi-year United States/India Cooperative Alternative Energy Program, small (about 4 kW) biomass gasifier-engine systems were designed, fabricated, and after laboratory testing, underwent field demonstration tests for lifting irrigation water on selected rural sites in India. This paper presents the work accomplished under the system design, development, laboratory, and field testing phases. Recommendations are made with respect to commercializing biomass gasification technology in India.

U.S./India Co-operative Biomass Conversion Program

As part of an overall effort to reduce the dependence on imported oil, the Government of India and the U.S. Agency for International Development have recently initiated a collaborative program to develop and implement newer coal and biomass energy conversion technologies in India. The dispersed nature of biomass resources generally restricts their application to small to medium-scale energy conversion technologies. However, the mining, beneficiation, and transportation of coal is done economically to satisfy the demand of large centralized energy conversion technologies. Thus, the development and implementation of biomass conversion technologies are quite complementary to the development of large-scale coal conversion technologies. The successful development, testing, and wide-scale commercialization of biomass conversion technologies in India, in addition to facilitating the reduction in imported oil demand, will also indirectly help conserve the indigenous coal resources, thus enhancing the local coal supply for large, centralized, coal-based plants.