(598b) Pressurized Steam Gasification of Biomass Char – Influence of Temperature and Gas Composition

With increasing interest in renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gases, biomass is one of the fuel sources that can have negative carbon emissions. This study investigates the reaction kinetics of biomass char steam gasification under high pressure and the inhibition effects of syngas, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The water-gas shift reaction during steam gasification of biomass char produces carbon dioxide and hydrogen. It has been observed that increasing concentration of hydrogen and carbon monoxide inhibit the reactivity of steam gasification. In order to investigate the influence of gas composition on gasification rate, a series of experiments were performed. Pine sawdust was pyrolyzed at 900 °C with a heating rate of 50 °C/min in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) reactor under different pressures. Then, the biochar went through steam gasification at a temperature ranging from 700 to 950 °C and pressures from 1 to 60 bar. The reactivity at different temperatures, pressure, and compositions of carbon monoxide and hydrogen will be presented. The kinetic model for steam gasification, including these inhibitors, will also be presented.