Preliminary Study of Fluidization Curves in Polydisperse Beds Formed by a Binary Mixture of Raphanus sativus L. Husk and Sand

Abstract

Seeking to use an increasingly clean and sustainable energy matrix, the use of biomass derivatives becomes an increasingly present alternative. Among the processes that can be used to generate higher added value products from biomass, the gasification process is highlighted. The irregular and spherical shape of the biomass particles inserted in the bed make this process difficult, however, and it is necessary to add an inert material (usually sand), forming a polydisperse bed filled with a binary mixture, but the biomass/sand is extremely important for the fluidization process to occur. Therefore, the present work had the objective of determining the fluidization curves of a binary mixture of sand and fodder turnip, which is formed by 10%, 30%, 50%, 70% and 90% of biomass in its volume. The fluidization of the Raphanus sativus L. husk fluidized up to a 70% biomass ratio in the blend, increasing the yield of the system and providing a viable and sustainable alternative for the application of biomass in biorefinery processes.