Mathematical model and experimental tests of hydrogen diffusion in the porous system of biomass

ABSTRACT

The paper deals with mathematical model and experimental tests of hydrogen (pure or mixed) diffusion in the porous system of biomass. A mathematical model has been developed for gas diffusion in a porous system and based on it a numerical simulation for hydrogen absorption gas been carried out. The results are presented graphically and they point out that the concentration variation inside the pore decreases with the increases of pore length and increases with the increase of hydrogen flux. Also, the absorbed hydrogen quantity decreases with the increase of the pore length and for a given pore length the absorbed hydrogen quantity increases with the increases of hydrogen flux and internal pore surface. Research regarding hydrogen diffusion in the porous system of biomass is part of wider research focusing on using hydrogen as an active medium for solid biomass combustion. In parallel with hydrogen diffusion in solid biomass, tests regarding biomass combustion previously subjected to a hydrogen flux will be carried out.

KEYWORDS:

• Biomass
• combustion
• experimental tests
• hydrogen diffusion
• mathematical model

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0698.