Experimental Analysis of Four Agricultural Biomass Fuel (Wood Charcoal, Maize Straws, Palm Kernel Sawdust and Rice Husks) Subjected to Fixed Bed Gasification Process

Abstract

The production of syngas from gasification is a heathy way to convert agricultural residues into energy. In fact the gasification characteristics, konwn as the temperature and the plasma duration, were assessed. The gasification process consisted in introducing into a designed updraft gasifier four types of biomass (maize, rice husks, charcoal and kernel palm) of a well known quantity (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kgs). The biomass choice was done because of their abundance and they can assure the renewal of resources in an industrial project setting. Air used as a gasifying agent, was introduced in the gasifier through a control valve. Air supply in the gas producer to favor the biomass conversion was done using a fan of 12 Volts turned by photovoltaic solar panels of 100 W each. The main results of this study were as follows. Whatever the quantity of biomass used, the highest gasification temperature was recorded with the charcoal followed by the palm kernel. The plasma or flame duration was the highest during the gasification of 10 kgs of charcoal followed by the palm kernel. The palm kernel and the maize straws are more advisable for the gasification purpose in rural areas of Cameroon.