Biomass Gasification by the use of Rice Husk Gasifier
Arjyadhara Pradhan1, S. M Ali2 & Ritesh Dash3
1&2
School of Electrical Engineering , KIIT University
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, ABIT, Cuttack
3
Abstract – Gasification is a process that converts organic or
fossil based carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide,
hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The process of producing
energy using the gasification method has been in use for
more than 180 years. During that time coal and peat were
used to power these plants. Initially developed to produce
town gas for lighting & cooking in 1800s, this was replaced
by electricity and natural gas, it was also used in blast
furnaces but the bigger role was played in the production of
synthetic chemicals where it has been in use since the
1920s.In this article mainly Biomass Gasification process
and a case study of Rice husk Gasifier using Biomass
Gasification is studies.
waste streams. The largest source of energy from wood
is pulping liquor or “black liquor,” a waste product from
processes of the pulp, paper and paperboard industry.
Waste energy is the second-largest source of biomass
energy.
The
main
contributors
of waste
energy are municipal
solid
waste
(MSW),
manufacturing waste, and landfill gas. Biomass alcohol
fuel,
or ethanol,
is
derived
primarily
from sugarcane and corn. It can be used directly as a
fuel or as an additive to gasoline. Biomass can be
converted to other usable forms of energy like methane
gas or transportation fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.
Keywords – Gasification, gasozene, syngas, pyrolysis ,
devolatilasation, Fischer-Tropsch.
III. GASIFICATION OF CHARCOAL
I.
1.
The dehydration or drying process occurs at around
100°C. Typically the resulting steam is mixed into
the gas flow and may be involved with subsequent
chemical reactions, notably the water-gas reaction if
the temperature is sufficiently high enough.
2.
The pyrolysis (or devolatilization) process occurs at
around 200-300°C. Volatiles are released and char
is produced, resulting in up to 70% weight loss for
coal. The process is dependent on the properties of
the carbonaceous material and determines the
structure and composition of the char, which will
then undergo gasification reactions.
3.
The combustion process occurs as the volatile
products and some of the char reacts with oxygen to
primarily form carbon dioxide and small amounts
of carbon monoxide, which provides heat for the
subsequent gasification reactions. Letting C
represent a carbon-containing organic compound,
the basic reaction here is
4.
The gasification process occurs as the char reacts
with carbon and steam to produce carbon monoxide
and hydrogen, via the reaction
5.
In addition, the reversible gas phase water gas shift
reaction reaches equilibrium very fast at the
INTRODUCTION
In order to save energy, reduce pollution, extensive
use local rich biomass resources, Rice husk gasification
power generation technology, converting biomass to
green electricity. Power plant will not discharge
pollution due to adopt biomass as fuel materials.
Biomass resource achieve high efficiency utilization
.Gasification process is achieved by reacting the
material at high temperatures (>700°C), without
combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or
steam. The resulting gas mixture is called syngas (from
synthesis gas or synthetic gas) or producer gas and is
itself a fuel. The power derived from gasification of
biomass and combustion of the resultant gas is
considered to be a source of renewable energy; the
gasification of fossil fuel derived materials such as
plastic is not considered to be renewable energy.
II. BIOMASS
Biomass is carbon, hydrogen and oxygen based.
Biomass energy is derived from five distinct energy
sources: garbage, wood, waste, landfill gases,
and alcohol fuels. Wood energy is derived both from
direct use of harvested wood as a fuel and from wood
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Special Issue of International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (IJACTE)
temperatures in a gasifier. This balances the
concentrations of carbon monoxide, steam, carbon
dioxide and hydrogen.
VII. STRUCTURE OF RICE HUSK GASIFIER SYSTEM
The gasification system includes:
IV. ADVANTAGES OF GASIFICATION
The advantage of gasification is that using the
syngas is potentially more efficient than direct
combustion of the original fuel because it can be
combusted at higher temperatures or even in fuel cells,
so that the thermodynamic upper limit to the efficiency
defined by Carnot's rule is higher or not applicable.
Syngas may be burned directly in gas engines, used to
produce methanol and hydrogen, or converted via the
Fischer-Tropsch process into synthetic fuel. Gasification
can also begin with material which would otherwise
have been disposed of such as biodegradable waste. In
addition, the high-temperature process refines out
corrosive ash elements such as chloride and potassium,
allowing clean gas production from otherwise
problematicfuels.
1.
Feeder
2.
Circulation fluidized bed gasifier
3.
Cyclone separator
4.
Air pre heater
5.
Blower
6.
Induced draft fan
7.
Ash device
8.
Automatic controlling device
VIII. TECHNOLOGY ROUTE
The Technology Route adopt combination of
circulation fluidized bed gasification furnace and
internal combustion engine to achieve utilization of rice
husk resource. Meanwhile, according to clients demand,
surplus heat boiler will be used for collect the surplus
heat of fuel gas and exhaust gas from generator,
finishing comprehensive utilization of energy.
IX. PROCESS
As shown, the gasifier is a small unit with 40-cm
diameter reactor equipped with 3-in., 220-volt electric
blower to provide the air needed in gasifying rice husks
to produce carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2)
gases. Rice husk is fed at the top end of the reactor
either manually using a ladder or with the use of a
bucket elevator. On the other hand, char is removed
from beneath the char box using a screw conveyor. The
gas coming out of the reactor is conditioned by allowing
it to pass through the gas-cleaning devices which
consisted of wet scrubbers, tar condenser, and a series of
packed and bag filters. The gas is fueled to a 3-cylinder,
12-valve surplus Susuki engine which directly drive a
10-kWe AC synchronous generator at a speed of 1,800
rpm producing 220 volt current. A total of 160 pieces of
50-watt bulbs can be energized by the plant for 8 to 10
hours continuous operation. The plant consumes rice
husks at an average rate of 19 kg per hour. The gas
temperature coming out of the reactor ranges from 400
to 550°C. It dropped between 50 to 70°C after passing
the wet scrubbers, and further cooled down between 35
to 42°C before entering the intake manifold of the
engine. Gas flow rate is at 24 Nm3 per hour. The engine
is entirely fueled by the gas generated, except at the
start-up and at the end of the operation. Furthermore, a
parasitic load of 15% of the power output is needed to
run the plant itself.
Fig : Shows various zone of Gasifier
V. TYPES OF GASIFIER

counter-current fixed bed

co-current fixed bed

fluidized bed

entrained flow

plasma

free radical
VI. RICE HUSK GASIFIER
Rice husk will be main fuel material of Rice husk
gasifier power generation plants, the analysis of rice
husk is given as an example.
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Special Issue of International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (IJACTE)
XII. A 2MW RICE HUSK GASIFICATION POWER
GENERATION PROJECT
PICS
12.1 Brief Introduction of Project
In order to save energy, reduce pollution, extensive
use local rich biomass resources, circulation fluidized
bed gasification power generation technology,
converting biomass to green electricity. Power plant will
not discharge pollution due to adopt biomass as fuel
materials. Biomass resource achieve high efficiency
utilization In order to best using rice husk resource, we
intent to collocate one set of 2mw circulation fluidized
bed biomass gasification furnace, 2set purification
system 5set fuel gas genset engine for this project to
supply heat, electricity. Gasification furnace gasified
biomass into fuel gas, which access to purification
system for removing dust, tar and other impurity.
12.2 Technology Route
The Technology Route adopt combination of
circulation fluidized bed gasification furnace and
internal combustion engine to achieve utilization of rice
husk resource. Meanwhile, according to clients demand,
surplus heat boiler will be used for collect the surplus
heat of fuel gas and exhaust gas from generator,
finishing comprehensive utilization of energy. The
figure is below: F1 2MW Diagram of Circulation
fluidized bed gasification power generation, gas supply
system
Fig : Shows rice husk gasifier
X. ADVANTAGE OF RICE HUSK GASIFIER SYSTEM
The advantage features of the gasifier system are:
(1) It makes use of available wastes in rural areas to
fuel engines that usually drive Generators.
(2) The tar problem which is common among
conventional rice husk gasifier systems is
eliminated in this gasifier technology.
(3) Operation can be done continuously without the
need to restart the reactor;
(4) It can easily be adopted with surplus spark-ignition
engine that is readily available in the locality.
(5) The technology can be locally produced making use
of available fabrication resources and skills.
(6) It can be scaled up to meet the power demand of a
certain community or application.
(7) Investment and operation costs are at the reach of
the local community.
XI. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Rice husk belong to renewable clean energy.
Environment protection and clean biomass energy is
sole renewable energy that can be converted to clean
fuel
materials.
Hazardous
Substances
from
straw(S&Ash ) content is 90% less than bituminous
coal. The emission and absorption of Carbon compose
carbon circulation in nature, achieving CO2 Zero
emission. Practice has proved that biomass energy play
a notable role in reducing CO2 emission.
12.3 Gasification reaction of rice husk
Rice husk access to circulation fluidized bed
gasification furnace through Feeder. Under highISSN (Print) : 2319 – 2526, Volume-2, Issue-1, 2013
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Special Issue of International Journal on Advanced Computer Theory and Engineering (IJACTE)
temperature, recycling and heating materials, rice husk
in gasifier meet air accessing from bottom so that
hydrogenation & gasification reaction occurred, and rice
husk converted into fuel gas. The element of fuel gas:
CO、H2、CH4 etc. Calorific value: 1450kcal/ m3
approximately. Moreover, including a little tar. Through
innovated fuel gas purification technology, dust, tar
included in fuel gas is effectively treated and collect to
completely achieve the demand of internal combustion.
XV. REFERENCES
XIII. CONCLUSION
With the increasing industrialization and rapid
population growth non renewable fuels are rapidly
getting consumed, which may lead to risk of energy
shortage in the future, but a definite solution to it is the
use of renewable source. Biomass is conversion of waste
to energy. India being a major agricultural country rice
husk gasifiers produce a change in the energy scenario
of the country.
XIV. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to thank School of Electrical
Engineering, KIIT University for providing necessary
experimental platform for research and analysis for the
completion of the paper.
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Technologies for Gasification of
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