Valorization of banana residues via gasification coupled with electricity generation

Abstract

The air-gasification of empty fruit bunches of banana was evaluated in a laboratory scale gasifier and a conceptual design of a scaled-up process integrating drying, gasification and electricity production was proposed. This could solve the disposal problem of this residue while valorizing it. The effects of varying the temperature and the amount of air were investigated, seeking to obtain a synthesis gas suitable for use in an internal combustion engine for the generation of electricity. It was possible to dry the biomass before the gasification stage by using the residual heat of the process. Gasification of empty fruit bunches of banana at 800 °C and ER = 0.3, conditions that were selected as the best condition between the analyzed ones, allowed to obtain 1.83 m3/kg (of dried biomass) of a fuel gas with a HHV of 6.22 MJ/Nm3. This gas could be used in a modified internal combustion engine to generate 1.1 kWh/kg fed dried biomass.