Energetic assessment of a combined heat and power integrated biomass gasification–internal combustion engine system by using Aspen Plus®

Abstract This study aims at the assessment of a combined heat and power (CHP) biomass bubbling fluidized bed gasification unit coupled with an internal combustion engine (ICE) by using a comprehensive mathematical model based on the Aspen Plus® process simulator. The model is based on a combination of modules that Aspen Plus simulator provides representing the 3 steps of gasification process (drying, pyrolysis, and oxidation), gas cleaning and ICE. The model is based on mass and energy balances and reaction kinetics. The model was validated by using data obtained by operating a pilot atmospheric bubbling fluidized bed gasifier at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, fed with olive kernel with a capacity of 1 kg/h and an energy output of 5 kW th , and has showed very good agreement. A sensitivity analysis was further conducted for the investigation of the system's behavior under different temperatures and air equivalence ratios. The proposed model is capable of dealing with a wide variety of biomasses (olive kernel, corn cob/stalks, rapeseed and sunflower stalks) using air as the fluidization agent and to predict the system's performance in terms of cold gas and thermal efficiency.

[1]  A. Gómez-Barea,et al.  Modeling of biomass gasification in fluidized bed , 2010 .

[2]  Anastasia Zabaniotou,et al.  Process characteristics and products of olive kernel high temperature steam gasification (HTSG). , 2009, Bioresource technology.

[3]  A. Zabaniotou,et al.  Mathematical modelling and simulation approaches of agricultural residues air gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor , 2008 .

[4]  Dieter Boer,et al.  Integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) process simulation and optimization , 2010, Comput. Chem. Eng..

[5]  Anastasia Zabaniotou,et al.  Agricultural residues as precursors for activated carbon production—A review , 2007 .

[6]  Laura Vanoli,et al.  Micro-combined heat and power in residential and light commercial applications , 2003 .

[7]  Alberto Coronas,et al.  Review and analysis of biomass gasification models , 2010 .

[8]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  Heat integration and analysis of decarbonised IGCC sites , 2010 .

[9]  P. Lv,et al.  An experimental study on biomass air-steam gasification in a fluidized bed. , 2004, Bioresource technology.

[10]  L. Douglas Smoot,et al.  Coal Combustion and Gasification , 1985 .

[11]  Pinakeswar Mahanta,et al.  Biomass gasification for decentralized power generation: The Indian perspective , 2010 .

[12]  Zissis Samaras,et al.  Mobile Gasification Units for Sustainable Electricity Production in Rural Areas: The SMARt-CHP Project , 2011 .

[13]  Anastasia Zabaniotou,et al.  Rapeseed residues utilization for energy and 2nd generation biofuels , 2008 .

[14]  J. Chaouki,et al.  Biomass gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor: Experiments and modeling , 2006 .

[15]  Luis Puigjaner,et al.  Advanced simulation environment for clean power production in IGCC plants , 2011, Comput. Chem. Eng..

[16]  C. Westbrook,et al.  Chemical kinetic modeling of hydrocarbon combustion , 1984 .

[17]  Peter McKendry,et al.  Energy production from biomass (Part 3): Gasification technologies. , 2002, Bioresource technology.

[18]  Anastasia Zabaniotou,et al.  Investigating the potential for energy, fuel, materials and chemicals production from corn residues (cobs and stalks) by non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis in two reactor configurations , 2009 .

[19]  S. A. Channiwala,et al.  Three zone equilibrium and kinetic free modeling of biomass gasifier - a novel approach. , 2009 .

[20]  L. Jiménez,et al.  Study of the physical and chemical properties of lignocellulosic residues with a view to the production of fuels , 1991 .

[21]  J. T. Riley,et al.  A novel biomass air gasification process for producing tar-free higher heating value fuel gas , 2006 .

[22]  N. Mahinpey,et al.  Simulation of biomass gasification in fluidized bed reactor using ASPEN PLUS. , 2008 .

[23]  Thokozani Majozi,et al.  PROCESS INTEGRATION AS AN OPTIMIZATION TOOL IN CLEAN COAL TECHNOLOGY: A FOCUS ON IGCC , 2009 .

[24]  Jalal Abedi,et al.  A comprehensive mathematical model for biomass gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor , 2010 .

[25]  Q. Wang,et al.  Simulation of Hydrogen Production from Biomass Catalytic Gasification , 2010, 2010 International Conference on Digital Manufacturing & Automation.

[26]  Chuang-zhi Wu,et al.  Modeling and simulation of biomass air-steam gasification in a fluidized bed , 2008 .

[27]  Adam Hawkes,et al.  Cost-effective operating strategy for residential micro-combined heat and power , 2007 .

[28]  J. Chaouki,et al.  A Comparison of Two- and Single-Phase Models for Fluidized-Bed Reactors , 2001 .

[29]  Zissis Samaras,et al.  Conceptual Design and Preliminary Hydrodynamic Study of an Agro Biomass Bench Gasification Fluidized Bed Reactor , 2008 .