Optimization of producer gas production from rice husks and sawdust in a three-stage gasifier

Abstract

ABSTRACT This article reports a study on producer gas production from biomass via gasification in a three-stage gasifier with a maximum biomass feed rate of 5 kg/h. Rice husks and sawdust were used in the experiments at feed rates of 3 kg/h. The FCR (feed consumption rate) was 0.05 kg/min for both biomasses. The results showed that the maximum temperature in the reactor occurred in a reduction zone at 890 and 846°C for rice husks and sawdust, respectively. Analysis of the obtained gas fuel was done. It was found that the heating values were 7,267.26 and 6,470.45 kJ/Nm3, gas flowrates were 0.072 and 0.065 m3/min, gas yields were 1.44 and 1.30 Nm3/kg, and cold gas efficiencies were 66.6 and 45.3%, from rice husks and sawdust, respectively. Comparing the two types of biomass, rice husks are a more suitable raw material than sawdust as a fuel gas production via gasification in a three-stage gasifier. This is due to their light and uniform particle weight. Rice husks can be processed continuously. Therefore, they are a potential fuel for decentralized electricity generation in the small communities of Thailand.