(709f) Optimizing Syngas Production Process By Downdraft Gasifier Using Response Surface Methodology

The gasification process of biomass to produce combustible gases has an attracted interest recently. The downdraft gasifier has an advantage over other types of gasifiers because of its small size, high quality gas production, and low tar yield. One of the challenges in the gasification process is the production of low-quality syngas (low concentration of H2 and CO) and large amount of tar. To overcome this problem, optimization of the gasifier operating conditions was employed to achieve high-quality product gases and hence high gasification process efficiency. In this work, the influence of initial gas temperature, airflow rate, and mole fraction of oxygen in primary air, on the gasification efficiency and product quality was optimized by response surface methodology. The obtained results showed that the reduction in the temperature caused a low concentration of carbon monoxide and a high amount of tar in the product, thereby there was a decline in the efficiency of the gasification process.