Enhanced producer gas generation by utilizing pistachio shells as a biomass feedstock in an open core downdraft gasifier

ABSTRACT

Gasification is a process of converting carbon-enriched materials like phytomass, biowaste, etc. into a volatile gas popularly termed as “Producer gas” by providing a limited amount of gasifying agent. In the present experimental work, pistachio shells have been utilized for gasification in a downdraft gasifier provided with an open core. Further, phytomass consumption rate, PG flow rate, PG heating value, gas composition, and cold gas efficiency has been determined in order to evaluate the gasifier’s performance. Experimental findings have revealed that maximum value of cold gas efficiency and calorific value of PG as 65.62% and 7.35 MJ/m³, respectively at equivalence ratio (ϕ) of 0.378. The maximum values of H₂and CH₄ in the producer gas have been obtained as 16.96% and 8.03% at an equivalence ratio of 0.294 and 0.378, respectively. Further, the temperature varied in the range of 600–900°C during the experiment. The producer gas hence generated through gasification of pistachio shells is rich in constituents and has many applications in power generation sector and in fuel production. In agriculture dominant countries, the waste from agriculture is not properly managed and in turn it creates the environment pollution and further disturbs the ecology. Thus, the present study suggests the proper utilization of agriculture waste in efficient manner.

KEYWORDS:

• Gasification
• pistachio shells
• downdraft gasifier
• PG
• equivalence ratio
• cold gas efficiency

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mohit Sharma

Mohit Sharma received his B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India in 2008 and M.Tech in Thermal Engineering from Thapar University, Patiala, India in 2012. He is currently persuing his Ph.D. from National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, India in Mechanical Engineering Department. His research interests are thermal engineering, renewable energy and bio energy.

Rajneesh Kaushal

Rajneesh Kaushal is working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of NIT-Kurukshetra (Institution of National Importance) since February 2013. Prior to the post, he had been working as Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of UIET-Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (A+ Grade NAAC Accredited) from May 2011 to February 2013. He had been member of BOS (Board of Studies) of Mechanical Engineering Department of NIT-Kurukshetra. He had been member of DAC (Departmental Advisory Committee) of Mechanical Engineering Department of NIT-Kurukshetra. Also, he is member of DPC (Department Purchase Committee) of Mechanical Engineering Department of NIT-Kurukshetra. He has 14 Years of teaching experience with different institutes of repute. He is holding many important administrative and academic responsibilities in his present Institute. He has published more than 50 papers in various Journals/Conferences of National and International repute. Dr. Rajneesh has also organized one International Conference at National University of Singapore in June 2019. He had organized 26th in series a National Conference on Internal Combustion Engines and Combustion at NIT Kurukshatra in November 2019 under the aegis of The Combustion Institute. He has been awarded with a Certificate of Outstanding Reviewer of 2017 by Elsevier. Recently he has been honored with Rosalind Member of London Journals Press. Dr. Rajneesh has authored 4 book chapters with Springer. During his almost 14 years of teaching career he has taught almost all the major subjects of Mechanical Engineering. Recently he has developed a state of the arts lab named Advanced Thermal Engineering Lab. at NIT Kurukshetra and he is the Professor In-charge of the lab. His research interests are thermal engineering, experimental heat/mass transfer, solar thermal energy, renewable energy, liquid desiccant air conditioning and bio-energy. He has given many expert lectures in and out of the parent Institute on various topics related to heat transfer, air conditioning, renewable energy and waste to energy. Presently he is supervising 7 Ph.Ds, 1 PhD degree has been awarded and 1 PhD thesis is submitted. So far he has guided 32 M.Tech. dissertations. Dr. Rajneesh has been working on a research project titled ‘Design and Development of a Hybrid Powered Liquid Desiccant System for Air Conditioning and Fresh Water Production’, funded by SERB-DST, Govt. of India. He has also published two patents namely ‘Solar Heat Collector’ and ‘Dehumidifier/Regenerator Apparatus’ with the Indian Patent Office, Govt. of India.