A Biomass Combustion-Gasification Model: Validation and Sensitivity Analysis

Abstract

The aim of the present paper is to study the gasification and combustion of biomass and waste materials. A model for the analysis of the chemical kinetics of gasification and combustion processes was developed with the main objective of calculating the gas composition at different operating conditions. The model was validated with experimental data for sawdust gasification. After having set the main kinetic parameters, the model was tested with other types of biomass, whose syngas composition is known. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to evaluate the influence of the main parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and air-fuel ratio on the composition of the exit gas. Both oxygen and air (i.e., a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen) gasification processes were simulated.