Mathematical Modelling of Biomass Gasification in a Circulating Fluidized Bed CFB Reactor

The scope of the present paper is to investigate the suitability of a mathematical model for Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) coal combustion (developed by the International Energy Agency), to predict and simulate the performance of the 100 kWth CFB for air-blown biomass gasification. The development of a mathematical model allows to simulate the operative conditions during biomass gasification, control the quality of the synthesis gas and improve the gasifier design. The geometrical, mechanical, hydro dynamical and thermo chemical features were introduced in the model by properly setting the input file and, some changes have been made in the code to assure the final convergence. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to study the variation in the input parameters of the program, and it has been finally verified by comparing the results with the empirical data collected during coal and wood combustion tests. The program, in the same case, could not successfully run; probably depending on wood char density value. For these reason the influence of char density will be investigated. The model predicts the development of tar and other hydrocarbons, valuating the agreement between the measured and calculated efficiency. A further development, to consider solid biomass, with a certain volatile percentages (20% - 40%), as a fuel has been previewed and analyzed. Finally some investigations have been carried out to provide some useful indications for future developments of the code, in the biomass gasification modelling