Design and Fabrication of a Laboratory Scale Updraft Gasifier

One major necessity for the existence of human beings is energy and biomass is one major source of energy especially in rural areas. This study presents a design, fabrication and performance evaluation of a laboratory scale updraft gasifier tested on wood as fuel. The wood was analyzed for its fuel characteristics. The results of the proximate analysis of the wood showed that the respective moisture content of 45.9% (dry basis) contains 50.9% fixed carbon, 85% of volatile matter and 20% of ash content. The higher heating value (HHV) and low heating value (LHV) are 8409.65 KJ/kg and 7807.45 KJ/kg. The result of ultimate analysis gives some elemental compositions, which are carbon (18.9%), hydrogen (2.74%), nitrogen (0.58%) and oxygen (11.88%). The performance evaluation carried out on the wood indicates that it is suitable as fuel for the fabricated updraft gasifier. This gasifier has been designed and fabricated to meet various energy demands from locally available materials and should be further develop for various applications of heating andelectricity supply.