title: Development of a bi-equilibrium model for biomass gasification in a downdraft bed reactor.
abstract: This work proposes a simple and accurate tool for predicting the main parameters of biomass gasification (syngas composition, heating value, flow rate), suitable for process study and system analysis. A multizonal model based on non-stoichiometric equilibrium models and a repartition factor, simulating the bypass of pyrolysis products through the oxidant zone, was developed. The results of tests with different feedstocks (corn cobs, wood pellets, rice husks and vine pruning) in a demonstrative downdraft gasifier (350kW) were used for validation. The average discrepancy between model and experimental results was up to 8 times less than the one with the simple equilibrium model. The repartition factor was successfully related to the operating conditions and characteristics of the biomass to simulate different conditions of the gasifier (variation in potentiality, densification and mixing of feedstock) and analyze the model sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale (DICI), Università di Pisa, L. Lazzarino, 56126 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: e.biagini@ing.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biagini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale (DICI), Università di Pisa, L. Lazzarino, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario Biomasse da Energia (CRIBE), Via vecchia di Marina, 6, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barontini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale (DICI), Università di Pisa, L. Lazzarino, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario Biomasse da Energia (CRIBE), Via vecchia di Marina, 6, 56122 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tognotti
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D005740:Gases; D006361:Heating; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D059206:Natural Gas; D012275:Oryza / Q000737:chemistry; D014934:Wood; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D059206:Natural Gas
keywords: Agro-food residues; Bio-conversion; Biofuels; Modeling; Syngas