Thermochemical Equilibrium Modelling of Steam Gasification of Char From Pattukku Coal Using Cao As Co2 Absorbent

Abstract

Although it is not able to provide highly accurate results, mathematical models can provide guidance regarding the quantitative influence of design, raw material, and other operating parameters. In addition, the representation of gasification in the form of mathematical equations can help understand the importance of the influence of operating parameters on the performance of a gasifier and can give a good understanding of the mechanisms that occur. In this paper, the steam gasification of char from Pattukku coal using CaO as CO2 absorbent in updraft gasifier was investigated. The aim is to determine the influence of temperature on syngas composition. A mathematical model based on the stoichiometric approach was developed in this study and the results were compared with experimental data. A mixture of coal and lime (CaO) with a ratio of 1:1.5 is fed into the reactor. The electric heater (furnice) is turned on to raise the temperature of the reactor until it reaches the desired reaction temperature ( i.e. 600, 700, and 800 °C). When the reaction temperature is reached, steam was flowed from the bottom of the reactor to be reacted with the char present in the reactor. The steam gasification carried out at a fixed temperature for 60 minutes and every 15 minutes, samples were taken for analysis. Base on the result of the experimental and calculation showed if the temperature of gasifier increase by 100 °C, the volume of gas will increase by approximately 1.7 time. The calculation showed that the proposed model could quantitatively be applied to predict the gas composition of steam gasification of char.