Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) Simulation of Thar Lignite Coal and Sugarcane Bagasse in Entrained Flow Gasifier

Abstract

For the generation of heat and electricity thermochemical conversion of feedstock is the most efficient clean, and environmentally friendly conversion process. In Pakistan, biomass and coal conversion through thermochemical conversion processes has got weighty consideration nowadays. As Pakistan is rich in biomass and coal resources. The producer gas produced from carbon-containing materials contains mainly CO, CO2, H2 and CH4. A numerical model of entrained flow gasifier is established to simulate coal, biomass blends through entrained flow gasifier. However, locally available coal deposits contain higher amounts of moisture and ash. Due to high moisture and ash content in coal results in lower reactivity along with the difficulty in handling of ash produced during gasification. In this research work, biomass and coal were co-gasified in entrained flow gasifier. The challenges arising because of the varying thermo-physical properties of both feedstocks such as volatile fraction, density and ash are taken into consideration in order to produce engine quality syngas. The feeding rate inside the concentric tube entrained flow gasifier was maintained at 82 kg/hr. Dry Pakistani coal and sugarcane bagasse were used as a feedstock for gasification. In this study varying mixing schemes were adopted in order to achieve the best performance during the cogasification process. The optimum blending ratio was found at a blending ratio of 35:65 on a weight basis. At the optimum blending ratio, the CGE and CCE was 87% and 99.8%, respectively.

Keywords

• thar coal
• sugarcane bagasse
• simulation
• entrained flow gasifier