EUBCE 2024 - Johan VAN DYK - Fundamental and Scientific Understanding of Biomass Properties for Gasification

Fundamental and Scientific Understanding of Biomass Properties for Gasification

Short Introductive summary

A knowledge of the the chemical composition and structure of minerals in biomass are necessary in order to understand the suitability and operating conditions of a specific biomass source, mineral transformations and agglomerate or slag formation during combustion or gasification. Biomass ash fusibility characteristics are difficult to determine precisely, partly because the ash contains many components with different chemical behaviours, and may vary from biomass source to biomass source, seasonal and geological location. The characteristics of biomass that affect gasification include the size, shape, and surface struc-ture of biomass particles, component composition and properties of fuel mixtures, mechanism and intensity of heat supply, and the temperature field in the reactor filled with solid and gase-ous products. The fundamental and chemical process parameters such as reactor temperature, agent ratio, biomass particle size, bed material, etc. also impact the gasification process.

J. Van Dyk, GTI Energy, Des Plaines, USA
T. Eastland, GTI Energy, Des Plaines, USA
Z. El Zahab, GTI Energy, Des Plaines, USA
C. Strydom, NWU, Potchefstroom, SOUTH AFRICA
P. Grant, Innoventon, Port Elizabeth, SOUTH AFRICA