Development of a non-stoichiometric equilibrium model of downdraft gasifier

ABSTRACT

Mathematical modeling is an integral part of the design to necessitate lower production costs and optimized performances. Biomass gasification is an area wherein extensive research is ongoing to tap into this potentially sustainable energy source. In this paper, a mathematical model based on the minimization of the total Gibbs energy of the system is developed to analyze, predict and optimize the performance of the gasification process. The model is validated through the results published by other authors in the literature. The minimization of Gibbs free energy gives a thermodynamic equilibrium approximation of the gas composition. The modeling considered here is an extension of the chemical equilibrium analysis developed by NASA for the estimation of chemical equilibrium of combustion process of rocket fuels. The model is further extended to estimate the composition of the gas obtained by a downdraft gasification of Lantana Camera.

KEYWORDS:

• Thermodynamic equilibrium model
• Gibbs free energy
• NASA CEA
• lantana camera
• downdraft gasifier