Performance analysis of a medium-scale downdraft gasifier using Lantana camera biomass as feeding material

Abstract

ABSTRACT Lantana camera , an invasive weed species, is widely available in different agro-climatic zones of India and has a huge potential in the gasification process. In the present investigation, the fuel properties of Lantana camara stems, e.g. energy value, volatile matter content, ash content, fixed carbon content and elemental detection (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Oxygen analysis) were investigated. In addition, thermo-gravimetric analysis of Lantana camara biomass at different temperatures was also carried out under atmospheric conditions. To explore the gasification characteristics of Lantana camara biomass, a downdraft biomass gasifier is designed and fabricated. The performance of the downdraft gasifier system is examined in terms of equivalence ratio, zone temperatures, heating value, gas yield, gas composition, carbon conversion efficiency, and gasifier efficiency. The gasification experiments were performed using air as an oxidizing agent. The results showed that the gas yield increases with increasing equivalence ratio and the obtained producer gas was composed of about 20–22% carbon monoxide (CO), 18–20% hydrogen (H2), 3–5% carbon dioxide (CO2), 1–4% methane (CH4), and rest nitrogen (N2). The higher heating value of producer gas achieved from 5.9 to 7 MJ/Nm3 while lower heating value varied from 5.47 to 6.42 MJ/Nm3. The maximum carbon conversion and thermal efficiency of the present biomass gasifier were observed to be around 46% and 64%, respectively.