Prediction and estimation of biomass energy from agricultural residues using air gasification technology in Iran

Abstract

Biomass energy has great potential to create significant impacts on the most pressing development challenges of rural poverty and environmental damage. Iran’s agricultural residues have the potential to generate a sustainable source of biomass. One method of sustainable biomass energy production is gasification. The objective of the present study is to develop a stoichiometric equilibrium model for the prediction of energy production of gasification. The model was validated with experimental data in order to determine the syngas composition. The RMSE of the modified model was ranged from 0.571 to 1.10. Subsequently, the effects of parameters of operating conditions on the performance of gasification were evaluated to determine its optimal performance characteristics. Also, the developed model was used to estimate the amount of power and heat obtained from different agricultural residues by the gasification process. The results indicated that the total achieved energy from the agricultural residues by gasification technology was 341,290 TJ. Also, the amount of electricity and heat obtained from this energy was 66,075 and 3 99,112 TJ, respectively.