Biomass gasification in atmospheric and bubbling fluidized bed: Effect of the type of gasifying agent on the product distribution

The effect of the type of gasifying agent used in biomass gasification on product distribution (gas, char and tar yields) and gas quality (contents in H2, CO, CO2, CH4,…, tars) is analyzed. Gasifying agents taken into account are: air, pure steam, and steam–O2 mixtures. Process considered is biomass gasification in atmospheric and bubbling fluidized bed. Previous results got by Herguido et al. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1992; 31(2): 1274–82), Gil et al. (Energy and Fuels 1997; 11(6): 1109–18) and Narváez et al. (Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1996; 35(7): 2110–20) are compared. Such authors carried their research on biomass gasification under similar conditions but varying the gasifying agent. Three different gasifying agent-to-biomass ratios are needed and used to compare results. The relationships between the H2, CO,…, tar contents in the flue gas and the type and amount of gasifying agent used are shown after a carefully analysis.