An effect of tar model compound toluene treatment with high-temperature flames

A major drawback of renewable gasification technologies is contamination of the syngas produced with “tar”, which can induce fouling in downstream equipment. The effect of continuous injection of acetylene and hydrogen high-temperature flames into the blend of gases containing a tar model compound toluene in order to decompose the latter has been studied. The experimental results indicate that treatment of the reaction mixture with the acetylene and hydrogen oxy-flames promotes reforming of toluene into H2 and CO. The same heating values of the flames result in different ratios between H2 and CO; this points out on a difference in mechanism of that reforming implying an interaction between toluene and combustion products which include a large specter of intermediate species (radicals). A better understanding of these mechanisms will help to obtain an optimal ratio between external oxy-flame and internal combustion regularly employed to increase the temperature of the producer gas in order to decompose volatile organics and tars in it. Utilization of oxy-flames for high-temperature clean-up of producer gas (gasification products) is very similar to the application of plasma steam tested with positive results in semi-industrial gasification units.