Numerical investigation of different biomass feedstock on syngas production using steam gasification and thermodynamic analysis

Abstract Extensive research has been done to provide energy from renewable sources due to climate change, global warming and limited fossil resources. Due to its low energy density, biomass is one of the renewable energy sources that is not used directly. Biomass is a clean, renewable energy source with a zero carbon dioxide release rate. Gasification is a chemical process that converts carbonaceous materials like biomass into gaseous fuels or useful chemical raw materials for gasification to occur in an oxygen-deficient environment with a requirement for heat which needs mediators for the reaction, like air, oxygen, superheated steam, or a combination of these. This study has been conducted to investigate the impact of the type of biomass feed on the production of syngas using the steam gasification method. Therefore, rice husk, wood chip, wood residue, coffee bean and green waste are considered, and the impact of gasification temperature and steam to biomass ratio (S/B) is investigated. According to the results, wood residue produces the most hydrogen compared to other feeds. With the increase of gasification temperature, an increase-decrease trend in the mass flow rate of hydrogen and an increase trend in the mass flow rate of carbon monoxide can be seen. The hydrogen produced in wood residue is 855 kg/h at S/B of 0.2 as well as a gasification temperature of 1200 °C. The lowest mass flow rate of hydrogen and carbon monoxide is related to green waste feed.