BioMatNet Item: JOULE JOR3-CT98-0232 - Biomass gasification modelling for energy systems

[BioMatNet Database - European Commission]

JOULE JOR3-CT98-0232
Biomass gasification modelling for energy systems

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JOULE/THERMIE Programme : Solid Biofuels : Thermochemical Conversion : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Type of Project	Shared Cost
	Contract No	JOR3-CT98-0232
	EC Contribution	699,976 ECU
	Start Date	21/04/1998
	Duration	36 Months

Biomass gasification modelling for energy systems

Objectives

This project aims to develop a comprehensive macroscopic model of lignocellulosic biomass gasification using the circulating fluidised bed process. The proposed approach would improve the present state-of-the-art by including in the model the heterogeneous fluid dynamics and the finite and competing kinetic rates at all stages of the CFB reactor. The main frame of the model will be gasification-oriented instead of gasifier-oriented, to maximise the flexibility and to ensure the applicability of the model to any design of CFB gasifier. The general structure will keep as open input at least: the design of the gasifier (shape and size), operating conditions (power, temperature, CFB mode, FB mode, equivalence ratio), wood fuel characteristics (kind, size, moisture).

Technical Approach

The proposed methodology consists of 3 steps:

to identify the usability of the existing CFB gasifier models and to define a consistent approach of the coupled modelling-experimentation tasks, in terms of interaction between physical experiments and mathematical simulation
to perform targeted lab- and full-scale experiments enabling to write sub-models and physically founded correlations, to be included in the main frame of the model
to validate the final model by operating an industrial plant located in Zeltweg (Austria)

Expected Results

The resulting simulation tool would allow:

the operators of CFB gasifiers, to optimise the management of their plants by control programs based on comprehensive modelling instead of parametric or empirical approach
the manufacturers of CFB systems, to match their design to the specific applications of their customers, enabling them to produce gases of a targeted quality from various lignocellulosic biomass fuels (wood chips and bark of European wood species)
the scientists to found their applied knowledge of the gasification processes on a comprehensive approach instead of on a parametric modelling and to improve their ability to provide realistic figures of CFB gasifier behaviour under innovative operating conditions

Contacts

Coordinator

Joseph MARTIN / Université Catholique de Louvain Département de Mécanique / BELGIUM

Participant