Steam Gasification Characteristics of Coir Pith in a Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasifier

Abstract

The effect of steam/biomass ratio, oxygen/carbon ratio on gas composition, gas heating value, gas yield, tar yield, carbon conversion, cold gas thermal, and overall thermal efficiency on a circulating fluidized bed biomass (coir pith) gasifier has been presented. The presence of steam altered the composition of product gas. A hydrogen yield of 43% has been observed for a steam/biomass of 4.5 and a temperature of 1,008°C due to the presence of potassium oxide in larger quantities in coir pith ash. As the steam/biomass increased, gas heating value decreased, the gas yield decreased, tar yield increased, and carbon conversion decreased.

Keywords:

• coir pith
• efficiency
• gasification
• hydrogen
• steam/biomass ratio