Effect of Superficial Velocity on Tar from Downdraft Gasification of Biomass

Changes in the amount and composition of tar according to superficial velocity (SV) were investigated in a downdraft biomass gasifier. SV of the downdraft gasification with air was varied in the range of 0.3−0.7 m/s, and tar was recovered at the gasifier outlet. The tar was classified as gravimetric tar and gas-chromatography-detectable (GC-detectable) tar. The lowest gravimetric tar yield (0.7%) was obtained at 0.4 m/s SV, and the highest was obtained at 0.7 m/s. GC-detectable tar yield was highest (1.5%) at 0.7 m/s. One-ring aromatics and naphthalene accounted for more than 80% of GC-detectable tar mass. Some constituents of GC-detectable tar showed specific trends according to SV, although the main composition did not show extreme change. The effect of SV on the production of gases and particles was also studied.

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