Complete Parametric Study of Bagasse Pellets During High-Temperature Steam Gasification

Abstract

A complete parametric study of bagasse pellets under high-temperature steam gasification in relevant industrial operating conditions was investigated. Regarding thermal behaviors, the maximum rate of weight loss (Rmax = 0.55%/°C) occurred at the temperature Tmax = 305 °C. The final pyrolysis temperature and heating rate were proportional to the mechanical strength, the bulk density, as well as the char yield and energy yield. However, the changes were not significant after 600 °C. Regarding steam gasification kinetics, an increase from 850 to 1000 °C and from 0.1 to 0.4 atm accelerated 10 times and two times the conversion rate of bagasse pellet char, respectively. Gasification kinetics of a pellet char produced at 2000 °Cmin−1 was 1.4 higher compared with a pellet char produced at 5 °C min−1. An empirical model that takes into account all the changes in the reactive surface could successfully predict the conversion of the bagasse pellet char during high-temperature steam gasification. Experimental results and the kinetic model proposed could be useful for the calculation of industrial or academic codes, necessary for the conception of new efficient gasifiers.