Mathematical modeling of a fluidized bed rice Husk gasifier : Part II-Model sensitivity

The performance of two thermodynamic models (one-compartment and two-compartment models), developed for fluidized bed gasification of rice husk, was analyzed and compared in terms of their predictive capabilities of the product gas composition. The two-compartment model was the most adequate to simulate the fluidized bed gasification of rice husk, since the complex hydrodynamics present in the fluidized bed gasifier were taken into account. Therefore, the two-compartment model was tested under a wide range of parameters, including bed height, fluidization velocity, equivalence ratio, oxygen concentration in the fluidizing gas, and rice husk moisture content. The model sensitivity analysis showed that changes in bed height had a significant effect on the reactor temperatures, but only a small effect on the gas composition, higher heating value, and overall carbon conversion. The fluidization velocity, equivalence ratio, oxygen concentration in the fluidizing gas, and moisture content in rice husk had dramatic effects on the gasifier performance. However, the model was more sensitive to variations in the equivalence ratio and oxygen concentration in the fluidizing gas.