Skip to main content

An Overview of Biomass Gasification

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Recent Advancements in Biofuels and Bioenergy Utilization

Abstract

The emission of greenhouse gases in the environment in order to satisfy the demand for electricity and fuel has raised severe climate change issues in various parts of the world. Thus, switching from conventional to renewable power sources has become necessary. Biomass a renewable energy source has the potential of becoming an alternative to the conventional energy sources. Gasification is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into a gaseous product known as a syngas and provides environment-friendly waste disposal. Synthesis gas produced through biomass gasification process can be furtherĀ utilized for power generation or various thermal applications. This chapter discusses various conventional gasification systems existing for biomass gasification along with new technological development. It also delivers an assessment of the impacts of fundamental and interrelatingĀ process parameters such as reactor temperature, equivalence ratio, biomass particle size, bed material, etc. on gasification process. Further, a section on various producer gas cleaning technologies to make syngas suitable for power generation applications is also included in this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

BFBG:

Bubbling fluidized bed gasifier

CFBG:

Circulating fluidized bed gasifier

CGE:

Cold gas efficiency

CV:

Calorific value

ER:

Equivalence ratio

FBG:

Fluidized bed gasifier

HHV:

Higher heating value

LHV:

Lower heating vale

S/B:

Steam to biomass

References

  • Alauddin ZABZ, Lahijani P, Mohammadi M, Mohamed AR (2010) Gasification of lignocellulosic biomass in fluidized beds for renewable energy development: a review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14:2852ā€“2862

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • AndrĆ©s JM, Narros A, RodrĆ­guez ME (2011) Behaviour of dolomite, olivine and alumina as primary catalysts in air-steam gasification of sewage sludge. Fuel 90:521ā€“527

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Aravind PV, Jong W (2012) Evaluation of high temperature gas cleaning options for biomass gasification product gas for solid oxide fuel cells. Prog Energy Combust Sci 38:737ā€“764

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Arena U, Zaccariello L, Mastellone ML (2009) Tar removal during the fluidized bed gasification of plastic waste. Waste Manag 29:783ā€“791

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Asadullah M (2014) Biomass gasification gas cleaning for downstream applications: a comparative critical review. Renew Sust Energ Rev 40:118ā€“132

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Aydar E, Gul S, Unlu N, Akgun F, Livatyali H (2014) Effect of the type of gasifying agent on gas composition in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor. J Energy Inst 87:35ā€“42

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Basu P (2006) Combustion and gasification in fluidized bed. Taylor & Francis Group LLC, Boca Raton

    BookĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Berrueco C, MontanĆ© D, GĆ¼ell BM, Alamo G (2014) Effect of temperature and dolomite on tar formation during gasification of torrefied biomass in a pressurized fluidized bed. Energy 66:849ā€“859

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Bhave AG, Vyas DK, Patel JB (2008) A wet packed bed scrubber-based producer gas coolingā€“cleaning system. Renew Energy 33:1716ā€“1720

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Brandt P (2000) High tar reduction in a two-stage gasifier. Energy Fuel 14:816ā€“819

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Bridgewater AV (2003) Renewable fuels and chemicals by thermal processing of biomass. Chem Eng 91:87ā€“102

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Calvo LF, Gil MV, Otero M, MorĆ”n A, GarcĆ­a AI (2012) Gasification of rice straw in a fluidized-bed gasifier for syngas application in close-coupled boiler-gasifier systems. Bioresour Technol 109:206ā€“214

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Campoy M, GĆ³mez-Barea A, Villanueva AL, Ollero P (2008) Air-steam gasification of biomass in a fluidized bed under simulated autothermal and adiabatic conditions. Ind Eng Chem Res 47:5957ā€“5965

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Chen G, Andries J, Luo Z, Spliethoff H (2003) Biomass pyrolysis/gasification for product gas production: the overall investigation of parametric effects. Energy Convers Manag 44:1875ā€“1884

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Corella J, Toledo JM, Padilla R (2004) Olivine or dolomite as in-bed additive in biomass gasification with air in a fluidized bed: which is better? Energy Fuel 18:713ā€“720

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Coutoa N, Rouboaa A, Silvaa V, Monteiro E, Bouziane K (2013) Influence of the biomass gasification processes on the final composition of syngas. Energy Procedia 36:596ā€“606

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Cui H, Grace JR (2007) Fluidization of biomass particles: a review of experimental multiphase flow aspects. Chem Eng Sci 67:45ā€“55

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Detournay M, Hemati M, Andreux R (2011) Biomass steam gasification in fluidized bed of inert or catalytic particles: comparison between experimental results and thermodynamic equilibrium predictions. Powder Technol 208:558ā€“567

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Ergudenler A, Ghaly AE (1993) Agglomeration of alumina sand in a fluidized bed straw gasifier at elevated temperatures. Bioresour Technol 43:259ā€“268

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Foscolo P, Germana A, Jand N, RapagnĆ  S (2007) Design and cold model testing of a biomass gasifier consisting of two interconnected fluidized beds. Powder Technol 173:179ā€“188

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Franco C, Pinto F, Gulyurtlu I, Cabrita I (2003) The study of reactions influencing the biomass steam gasification process. Fuel 82:835ā€“842

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Gil J, Aznar MP, Caballero MA, Frances E, Corella J (1997) Biomass gasification in fluidized bed at pilot scale with steam-oxygen mixtures. Product distribution for very different operating conditions. Energy Fuel 11:1109ā€“1118

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Gil J, Corella J, Aznara MP, Caballero MA (1999) Biomass gasification in atmospheric and bubbling fluidized bed: effect of the type of gasifying agent on the product distribution. Biomass Bioenergy 17:389ā€“403

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Han J, Kim H (2008) The reduction and control technology of tar during biomass gasification/pyrolysis: an overview. Renew Sust Energ Rev 12:397ā€“416

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Hasler P, Buehler R., Nussbaumer T (1998) Evaluation of gas cleaning technologies for biomass gasification. Biomass for energy and industry, 10th European conference and technology exhibition, June 8ā€“11 Wurzburg, Germany

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Heidenreich S, Nacken M, Hackel M, Schaub G (2008) Catalytic filter elements for combined particle separation and nitrogen oxides removal from gas streams. Powder Technol 180:86ā€“90

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Henriksen U, Ahrenfeldt J, Jensen TK, GĆøbel B, Bentzen JD, Hindsgaul C, SĆørensen LH (2006) The design, construction and operation of a 75 Kw two-stage gasifier. Energy 31:1542ā€“1553

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • HernĆ”ndez JJ, Aranda-Almansa G, Bula A (2010) Gasification of biomass wastes in an entrained flow gasifier: effect of the particle size and the residence time. Fuel Process Technol 91:681ā€“692

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Huang B, Chen H, Kuo J, Chang C, Wey M (2012) Catalytic upgrading of syngas from fluidized bed air gasification of sawdust. Bioresour Technol 110:670ā€“675

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Hurley S, Xu CC, Preto F, Shao Y, Li H, Wang J, Tourigny G (2012) Catalytic gasification of woody biomass in an air-blown fluidized-bed reactor using Canadian limonite iron ore as the bed material. Fuel 91:170ā€“176

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Karatas H, Olgun H, Akgun F (2012) Experimental results of gasification of waste tire with air & CO2, air & steam and steam in a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier. Fuel Process Technol 102:166ā€“174

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Karmakar MK, Datta AB (2011) Generation of hydrogen rich gas through fluidized bed gasification of biomass. Bioresour Technol 102:1907ā€“1913

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Karmakar MK, Mandal J, Haldar S, Chatterjee PK (2013) Investigation of fuel gas generation in a pilot scale fluidized bed auto-thermal gasifier using rice husk. Fuel 111:584ā€“591

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Kim YD, Yang CW, Kim BJ, Kim KS, Lee JW, Moon JH, Yang W, Yu TU, Lee UD (2013) Air-blown gasification of woody biomass in a bubbling fluidized bed gasifier. Appl Energy 112:414ā€“420

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Lahijani P, Najafpour GD, Zainal ZA, Mohammadi M (2011) Air gasification of palm empty fruit bunch in a fluidized bed gasifier using various bed materials. World Renewable Energy Congress, Linkoping

    BookĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Lim MT, Alimuddin Z (2008) Bubbling fluidized bed biomass gasification ā€“ performance, process findings and energy analysis. Renew Energy 33:2339ā€“2343

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Loha C, Chatterjee PK, Chattopadhyay H (2011a) Performance of fluidized bed steam gasification of biomass ā€“ modeling and experiment. Energy Convers Manag 52:1583ā€“1588

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Loha C, Chattopadhyay H, Chatterjee PK (2011b) Thermodynamic analysis of hydrogen rich synthetic gas generation from fluidized bed gasification of rice husk. Energy 36:4063ā€“4071

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • LV PM, Xiong ZH, Chang J, Wu CZ, Chen Y, Zhu JX (2004) An experimental study on biomass airā€“steam gasification in a fluidized bed. Bioresour Technol 95:95ā€“101

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • LV P, Yuan Z, Wu C, Ma L, Chen Y, Tsubaki N (2007) Bio-syngas production from biomass catalytic gasification. Energy Convers Manag 48:1132ā€“1139

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Mansaray KG, Ghalya AE, Al-Taweela AM, Hamdullahpur F, Ugursal VI (1999) Air gasification of rice husk in a dual distributor type fluidized bed gasifier. Biomass Bioenergy 17:315ā€“332

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Miccio F, Pirioua B, Ruoppoloa G, Chirone R (2009) Biomass gasification in a catalytic fluidized reactor with beds of different materials. Chem Eng J 154:369ā€“374

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Molino A, Chianese, S, Musmarra D (2015) Biomass gasification technology: the state of the art overview. J Energy Chem 16ā€“52

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Murakami T, Xu G, Suda T, Matsuzawa Y, Tani H, Fujimori T (2007) Some process fundamentals of biomass gasification in dual fluidized bed. Fuel 86:244ā€“255

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Parthasarathy P, Narayanan KS (2014) Hydrogen production from steam gasification of biomass: influence of process parameters on hydrogen yield: a review. Renew Energy 66:570ā€“579

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Pathak BS, Patel DV, Bhoi PR, Sharma AM, Vyas DK (2007) Design and development of sand bed filter for upgrading producer gas to IC engine quality fuel. Int Energ J 8:15ā€“20

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Pfeifer C, Koppatz S, Hofbauer H (2011) Steam gasification of various feedstocks at a dual fluidised bed gasifier: impacts of operation conditions and bed materials. Biomass Convers Bioref 1:39ā€“53

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Phuphuakrat T, Namioka T, Yoshikawa K (2010) Tar removal from biomass pyrolysis gas in two-step function of decomposition and adsorption. Appl Energy 87:2203ā€“2211

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Qin Y, Huang HF, Wu ZB, Feng J, Li W, Xie KC (2007) Characterization of tar from sawdust gasified in the pressurized fluidized bed. Biomass Bioenergy 31:243ā€“249

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Rapagna S, Janda N, Kiennemannb A, Foscoloa PU (2000) Steam-gasification of biomass in a fluidised-bed of olivine particles. Biomass Bioenergy 19:187ā€“197

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • RapagnĆ  S, Gallucci K, Di Marcello M, Matt M, Nacken M, Heidenreich S, Foscolo PU (2010) Gas cleaning, gas conditioning and tar abatement by means of a catalytic filter candle in a biomass fluidized-bed gasifier. Bioresour Technol 101:7123ā€“7130

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Seville J, Chuah TG, Sibanda V, Knight P (2003) Gas cleaning at high temperatures using rigid ceramic filters. Adv Powder Technol 14:657ā€“672

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Shen L, Xiao J, Niklasson F, Johnsson F (2007) Biomass mixing in a fluidized bed biomass gasifier for hydrogen production. Chem Eng Sci 62:636ā€“643

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Shen L, Gao Y, Xiao J (2008) Simulation of hydrogen production from biomass gasification in interconnected fluidized beds. Biomass Bioenergy 32:120ā€“127

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Subbaiah BS, Murugan DK, Deenadayalan DB, Dhamodharan MI (2014) Gasification of biomass using fluidized bed. Int J Innov Res Sci Eng Technol 3:2319ā€“8753

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Subramanian P, Sampathrajan A, Venkatachalam P (2011) Fluidized bed gasification of select granular biomaterials. Bioresour Technol 102:1914ā€“1920

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Sun Y, Li R, Yang T, Kai X, He Y (2013) Gasification of biomass to hydrogen-rich gas in fluidized beds using porous medium as bed material. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38:14208ā€“14213

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Sutton D, Kelleher B, Ross JRH (2001) Review of literature on catalysts for biomass gasification. Fuel Process Technol 73:155ā€“173

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Thakkar M, Makwana JP, Mohanty P, Shah M, Singh V (2016) In bed catalytic tar reduction in the autothermal fluidized bed gasification of rice husk: extraction of silica, energy and cost analysis. Ind Crop Prod 87:324ā€“332

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Udomsirichakorn J, Basu P, Salam PA, Acharya B (2013) Effect of CaO on tar reforming to hydrogen enriched gas with in-process CO2 capture in a bubbling fluidized bed biomass steam gasifier. Int J Hydrogen Energy 38:14495ā€“14504

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Umeki K, Yamamoto K, Namioka T, Yoshikawa K (2010) High temperature steam-only gasification of woody biomass. Appl Energy 87:791ā€“798

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Virginie M, AdĆ”nez J, Courson C, de Diego LF, Labiano GF, Niznansky D, Kiennemann A, GayĆ”n P, Abad A (2012) Effect of Fe-olivine on the tar content during biomass gasification in a dual fluidized bed. Appl Catal B Environ 121:214ā€“222

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Warnecke R (2000) Gasification of biomass: comparison of fixed bed and fluidized bed gasifier. Biomass Bioenergy 18:489ā€“497

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Weerachanchai P, Horio M, Tangsathitkulchai C (2009) Effects of gasifying conditions and bed materials on fluidized bed steam gasification of wood biomass. Bioresour Technol 100:1419ā€“1427

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Xiao R, Jin B, Zhou H, Zhong Z, Zhang M (2007) Air gasification of polypropylene plastic waste in fluidized bed gasifier. Energy Convers Manag 48:778ā€“786

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Yanga YB, Ryua C, Khora A, Yates NE, Sharifia VN, Swithenbank J (2005) Effect of fuel properties on biomass combustion. Part II. Modelling approach-identification of the controlling factors. Fuel 84:2116ā€“2130

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Zhang R, Brown RC, Suby A, Cummer K (2004) Catalytic destruction of tar in biomass derived producer gas. Energy Convers Manag 45:995ā€“1014

    ArticleĀ  CASĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pravakar Mohanty .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

Ā© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Thakkar, M., Mohanty, P., Shah, M., Singh, V. (2018). An Overview of Biomass Gasification. In: Sarangi, P., Nanda, S., Mohanty, P. (eds) Recent Advancements in Biofuels and Bioenergy Utilization. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1307-3_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics