A bubbling fluidized bed solar reactor model of biomass char high temperature steam-only gasification

A two phase biomass char (biochar) steam gasification model based on the systems kinetics is developed in a bubbling fluidized bed with concentrated solar heat as source of energy. The model calculates the dynamic and steady state profiles, as well as the complex parameters of fluidized beds. This robust model is capable of predicting the temperature and concentration profiles of gases in the bubble, emulsion gas and solid phases. The Rosseland equation is used to calculate the radiative transfer within the bed. Due to the nature of the fluidized bed, the small bed thermal conductivity and bigger void between particles, there is a large temperature gradient throughout the bed, indicating that the system is highly non-isothermal. The set-up of a fluidized bed with solar irradiation in the upper side of the reactor is found to be a less efficient gasifying system in comparison with a packed bed, but could be optimized if the source of heat is changed to the bottom of the reactor. The trends and responses of the model are in good agreement with the experimental trends reported in the literature. Hydrogen is the principal product followed by carbon monoxide, the carbon dioxide production is small and the methane production is negligible.