For thermal applications, gasifiers are a good option as a gasifier can be retrofitted with existing devices such as ovens, furnaces, boilers, etc. Thermal energy of the order of 4.5 to 5.0 MJ is released by burning one cu.m of producer gas in the burner. Flame temperatures as high as 1200° C can be obtained by optimal air preheating and pre-mixing of air with gas. Producer gas can thus replace fossil fuels in a wide range of devices. A few of the devices which could be retrofitted with gasifiers are furnaces for melting non-ferrous metals and for heat treatment, tea dryers, ceramic kilns, boilers for process steam and thermal fluid heaters. A diesel engine can be operated on dual fuel mode using producer gas. Diesel substitution of over 80% at high loads and 70 - 80% under normal load variations can be achieved. The mechanical energy thus derived can be used either for driving water pumps for irrigation or for coupling with an alternator for electrical power generation. Alternatively, a gas engine can be operated with producer gas on 100% gas mode with suitably modified air / fuel mixing and control system.
1 comment:
Interesting analysis. Together with your 2008 blogs, have you thought about connecting the dots. For instance, any thoughts on the economics of a small scale <10kW gasifier to convert dry farm and food processing biomass on-site into a high temperature fuel for an integrated kilowatt class SOFC system. Or replacing the gasifier with a kilowatt class slow pyrolysis system to produce biochar as a marketable product for soil enrichment and fuel for an integrated SOFC system. In both cases the heat output of the SOFC would add overall system efficiency.
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