Abstract
Gasification studies were performed on sub-bituminous coal of the province Centro in Boyacá state of Colombia, vegetable biomass Chenopodium album (cenizo) and co-gasification of coal-biomass mixtures agglomerated with paraffin in a thermogravimetric analyzer. Biomass synergistically promoted thermochemical transformation of the coal was observed. Experimental results were compared to equilibrium composition simulations. Ash fusibility tests of the coal-biomass mixture were carried out, which allowed to clarify its behavior, such as dry or fluid ash according to own chemical composition, during the gasification process. The experimental tests allowed determining the differences in thermal decomposition, between coal, cenizo and coal-biomass blend, which are attributable to the physicochemical properties of each one solid fuel. During the tests, gas chromatography analyses were performed to establish the compositions of the syngas. The syngas obtained from biomass had the highest concentration of CO and the lowest H2; the coal and the coal-biomass mixture were slightly minor respectively. Concentrations of CH4, CO2 and C2H4 were similar between coal and biomass. This result is consistent with the higher calorific value of the coal syngas. The production of syngas from the coal-biomass mixture had the lowest contents of H2 and CO due to synergistic phenomena that occur with the fuel mixture. The co-gasification of the mixture gave the highest syngas production, carbon conversion, and thermal efficiency. These results indicate the viability of co-gasification of coal-Chenopodium album agglomerated mixtures. In gasification of non-agglomerated mixtures of coal-cenizo, the biomass can be burned directly without producing syngas.
Highlights
All fuels, except pure hydrogen, produce NOx, SOx, CO2, and other pollutants during combustion, whose impacts on environmental sustainability and public health remain a worldwide persistent problem [1]
Concentrations of CH4, CO2 and C2H4 were similar between coal and biomass. This result is consistent with the higher calorific value of the coal syngas
The production of syngas from the coal-biomass mixture had the lowest contents of H2 and CO due to synergistic phenomena that occur with the fuel mixture
Summary
Except pure hydrogen, produce NOx, SOx, CO2, and other pollutants during combustion, whose impacts on environmental sustainability and public health remain a worldwide persistent problem [1]. The results of the characterization of gases and the process were used to evaluate the performance of the same through parameters such as gas production (Yg), carbon conversion efficiency (Ecc) and thermal efficiency (ETh), which are determined according to equations 1 - 4 [20]: Yg. Where Fg, Ff, Fa, and FN2 are the total gas flow, solid fuel, air flow and drag nitrogen flow, respectively. Fusible tests of the ashes from the coal-biomass mixture were performed following ASTM D1857 in a CARBOLITE model equipment model CAF-905S, in oxidizing atmosphere, in order to establish if the behavior of the mineral matter present in the sample, during the gasification process, is of solid or fluid ash [10, 25]. The mean fusion temperature (MFT) can be calculated from the mineralogical composition of the ashes, which were previously analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) [26] to identify qualitatively and quantitatively the crystalline compounds present [27]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call