Marco Baratieri

Laboratory/Demonstration-Scale Developments

Gasification processes come with great challenges regardless of the scale. Pilot-scale facilities encounter various problems, such as low conversion efficiencies or tar removal, which usually need significant trial and error, time, and finances to solve. Using data generated in pilot-scale facilities to model and simulate further developments in demonstration and commercial-scale plants is a well-known path that researchers and technology developers employ to reduce the risks of scale-up. In this chapter, few examples of pilot-scale gasification units are discussed, some of which are currently successful demonstration or commercial-scale plants. The chapter also describes some less successful examples and projects which are still in early development stages.

Modeling the emissions of a dual fuel engine coupled with a biomass gasifier—supplementing the Wiebe function

There is a growing market demand for small-scale biomass gasifiers that is driven by the economic incentives and the legislative framework. Small-scale gasifiers produce a gaseous fuel, commonly referred to as producer gas, with relatively low heating value. Thus, the most common energy conversion systems that are coupled with small-scale gasifiers are internal combustion engines. In order to increase the electrical efficiency, the operators choose dual fuel engines and mix the producer gas with diesel. The Wiebe function has been a valuable tool for assessing the efficiency of dual fuel internal combustion engines. This study introduces a thermodynamic model that works in parallel with the Wiebe function and calculates the emissions of the engines. This “vis-à-vis” approach takes into consideration the actual conditions inside the cylinders—as they are returned by the Wiebe function—and calculates the final thermodynamic equilibrium of the flue gases mixture. This approach aims to enhance the operation of the dual fuel internal combustion engines by identifying the optimal operating conditions and—at the same time—advance pollution control and minimize the environmental impact.