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Small-scale power generation analysis: Downdraft gasifier coupled to engine generator set

Author

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  • Chaves, Luiz Inácio
  • da Silva, Marcelo José
  • de Souza, Samuel Nelson Melegari
  • Secco, Deonir
  • Rosa, Helton Aparecido
  • Nogueira, Carlos Eduardo Camargo
  • Frigo, Elisandro Pires

Abstract

In Brazil, biomass appears as one the most promising alternative energy sources for electricity generation, due to the large amount of agricultural, forest and livestock activities. In addition, biomass is widely available, less intermittent and uniformly distributed, when compared to some renewable sources (wind power, solar photovoltaic, e.g.). To access the power generation from biomass, gasification has been pointed as more adequate to the small-scale deployments (less than 150kWe) indicated for distributed generation, mainly at isolated rural communities, where centralized grid is not available or feasible. This work aims to contribute with a techno analysis about the small-scale electricity generation through gasification of wood wastes associated to an engine generator. For this purpose, it was assembled a pilot power generation plant, composed by a downdraft gasifier and a spark-ignition engine (SIE) coupled to electric generator. The parameters evaluated were related to the biomass gasification (gasification yield of 2.5Nm3kg−1, fuel wood consumption of 5.6kgh−1, e.g.) and generation (specific fuel wood consumption of 1.9kgkWh−1, e.g.). In general, biomass gasification conversion was performed with high efficiency (about 70%); however, on conversion of the producer gas into electricity, the efficiency dropped to 17%, mainly due to low thermal efficiency of SIE and calorific value of gas. Even though, the technology is a promising alternative to supply electricity from biomass, especially on places where electrical distribution network is not yet available.

Suggested Citation

  • Chaves, Luiz Inácio & da Silva, Marcelo José & de Souza, Samuel Nelson Melegari & Secco, Deonir & Rosa, Helton Aparecido & Nogueira, Carlos Eduardo Camargo & Frigo, Elisandro Pires, 2016. "Small-scale power generation analysis: Downdraft gasifier coupled to engine generator set," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 491-498.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:58:y:2016:i:c:p:491-498
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2015.12.033
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    6. Vargas-Salgado, Carlos & Águila-León, Jesús & Alfonso-Solar, David & Malmquist, Anders, 2022. "Simulations and experimental study to compare the behavior of a genset running on gasoline or syngas for small scale power generation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(PA).
    7. Ricardo A. Narváez C. & Richard Blanchard & Roger Dixon & Valeria Ramírez & Diego Chulde, 2018. "Low-Cost Syngas Shifting for Remote Gasifiers: Combination of CO 2 Adsorption and Catalyst Addition in a Novel and Simplified Packed Structure," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, February.
    8. Martínez, Laura V. & Rubiano, Jairo E. & Figueredo, Manuel & Gómez, María F., 2020. "Experimental study on the performance of gasification of corncobs in a downdraft fixed bed gasifier at various conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1216-1226.
    9. Marco Puglia & Nicolò Morselli & Simone Pedrazzi & Paolo Tartarini & Giulio Allesina & Alberto Muscio, 2021. "Specific and Cumulative Exhaust Gas Emissions in Micro-Scale Generators Fueled by Syngas from Biomass Gasification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-13, March.
    10. Tulio A S Vieira & Paulo F Trugilho & Tulio A S Vieira & Sonia A C Carabineiro & Paulo F Trugilho, 2019. "Forestry Biomass as Energy Source in Brazil," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 19(3), pages 75-79, May.
    11. Susastriawan, A.A.P. & Saptoadi, Harwin & Purnomo,, 2017. "Small-scale downdraft gasifiers for biomass gasification: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 989-1003.
    12. Bhoi, Prakashbhai R. & Huhnke, Raymond L. & Kumar, Ajay & Thapa, Sunil & Indrawan, Natarianto, 2018. "Scale-up of a downdraft gasifier system for commercial scale mobile power generation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 25-33.
    13. Elsner, Witold & Wysocki, Marian & Niegodajew, Paweł & Borecki, Roman, 2017. "Experimental and economic study of small-scale CHP installation equipped with downdraft gasifier and internal combustion engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 213-227.
    14. Caiado Couto, Lilia & Campos, Luiza C. & da Fonseca-Zang, Warde & Zang, Joachim & Bleischwitz, Raimund, 2021. "Water, waste, energy and food nexus in Brazil: Identifying a resource interlinkage research agenda through a systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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