International Journal of Environmental Science and Development

Abstract—In this experimental study the evolution of gas characteristics during the gasification of olive bagasse particles was investigated using a semi-batch fluidized-bed gasifier. Sand particles with a mean diameter of 375 μm were used as bed material and an air flow was used as the fluidizing agent. Experimental tests were conducted with particles of diameter ranging from in 1.25 to 2 mm. The material was characterised through elemental and proximate analysis, and the higher heating value was also measured. In each run, the major components of the gas phase were identified as CO, CO₂, H₂, CH₄, O₂ and N₂. Gaseous samples were collected and analysed by gas chromatography (Dani 1000 DPC). The effect of air/biomass ratio on gasification performance was studied. The tests were conducted at three different air flow rates and the load of biomass was also changed. The results show that the of air flow increases the H₂, CO and CH₄ content in the producer gas. Results also show an increase in the dry gas yield, carbon conversion and the gas heating values as air flow rate decreases. Findings reveal as well that the increase of biomass load reduces the composition in H₂ CO and CH₄ of the producer gas, leading to the decrease of the gasification performance parameters.

Index Terms—Gasification, olive bagasse particles, producer gas, semi-batch fluidized bed.

The authors are with the CIETI, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, IPP, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal (e-mail: afdsa@isep.ipp.pt, msmve@isep.ipp.pt, asr@isep.ipp.pt, imp@isep.ipp.pt, mpp@isep.ipp.pt, rmp@isep.ipp.pt).

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Cite: Ana F. Almeida , Mónica S. Vieira, Albina M. Ribeiro, Isabel. M. Pereira, Maria P. Neto, and Rosa M. Pilão, "Effect of Air/Biomass Ratio on the Gasification of Olive Bagasse Particles," International Journal of Environmental Science and Development vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 269-272, 2016.