IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v50y2013icp333-342.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Characterisation of tars from biomass gasification: Effect of the operating conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Hernández, J.J.
  • Ballesteros, R.
  • Aranda, G.

Abstract

Tars formation remains the main technical hurdle in the development of biomass gasification at commercial scale, due to its associated operating problems (condensation, catalyst deactivation, polymerisation). This work aims to study the effect of the operating conditions (biomass/air ratio, temperature and gasifying agent) on the production and the technical and environmental hazard (tar dew point and carcinogenic potential) of tars produced in a small-scale drop-tube gasifier, dealcoholised marc of grape being used as biomass fuel. An analytical HPLC method has been used for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene and xylenes (BTEX), phenol, and pyridine. Results show that an increase in the relative biomass/air ratio, a decrease in temperature, and higher steam content lead to a higher tar production. BTEX have been found as the main constituents of tars (60–70% wt.), whereas among PAHs, the most significant are the lighter ones (naphthalene, acenaphtylene, acenaphtene). Phenol production is favoured at lower temperatures or/and higher steam content (around 50% wt. of the tar mixture at 750 °C and steam gasification). A progressive aromatisation of tars has been observed when increasing the temperature, the effect of steam addition on tar composition being not significant at temperatures higher than ∼1000 °C.

Suggested Citation

  • Hernández, J.J. & Ballesteros, R. & Aranda, G., 2013. "Characterisation of tars from biomass gasification: Effect of the operating conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 333-342.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:50:y:2013:i:c:p:333-342
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2012.12.005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544212009127
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2012.12.005?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Karamarkovic, Rade & Karamarkovic, Vladan, 2010. "Energy and exergy analysis of biomass gasification at different temperatures," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(2), pages 537-549.
    2. Chen, Wei & Annamalai, Kalyan & Ansley, R. James & Mirik, Mustafa, 2012. "Updraft fixed bed gasification of mesquite and juniper wood samples," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 454-461.
    3. Ma, Zhongqing & Zhang, Yimeng & Zhang, Qisheng & Qu, Yongbiao & Zhou, Jianbin & Qin, Hengfei, 2012. "Design and experimental investigation of a 190 kWe biomass fixed bed gasification and polygeneration pilot plant using a double air stage downdraft approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 140-147.
    4. Nzihou, Ange & Flamant, Gilles & Stanmore, Brian, 2012. "Synthetic fuels from biomass using concentrated solar energy – A review," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 42(1), pages 121-131.
    5. Li, Chunshan & Suzuki, Kenzi, 2009. "Tar property, analysis, reforming mechanism and model for biomass gasification--An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 594-604, April.
    6. Lv, Pengmei & Yuan, Zhenhong & Ma, Longlong & Wu, Chuangzhi & Chen, Yong & Zhu, Jingxu, 2007. "Hydrogen-rich gas production from biomass air and oxygen/steam gasification in a downdraft gasifier," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 32(13), pages 2173-2185.
    7. Gordillo, Gerardo & Annamalai, Kalyan & Carlin, Nicholas, 2009. "Adiabatic fixed-bed gasification of coal, dairy biomass, and feedlot biomass using an air–steam mixture as an oxidizing agent," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2789-2797.
    8. Han, Jun & Kim, Heejoon, 2008. "The reduction and control technology of tar during biomass gasification/pyrolysis: An overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 397-416, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ud Din, Zia & Zainal, Z.A., 2016. "Biomass integrated gasification–SOFC systems: Technology overview," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1356-1376.
    2. Gai, Chao & Dong, Yuping & Zhang, Tonghui, 2014. "Distribution of sulfur species in gaseous and condensed phase during downdraft gasification of corn straw," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 248-258.
    3. Ud Din, Zia & Zainal, Z.A., 2017. "The fate of SOFC anodes under biomass producer gas contaminants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 1050-1066.
    4. Radenahmad, Nikdalila & Azad, Atia Tasfiah & Saghir, Muhammad & Taweekun, Juntakan & Bakar, Muhammad Saifullah Abu & Reza, Md Sumon & Azad, Abul Kalam, 2020. "A review on biomass derived syngas for SOFC based combined heat and power application," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    5. Font Palma, Carolina, 2013. "Modelling of tar formation and evolution for biomass gasification: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 129-141.
    6. Du, Shilin & Shu, Rui & Guo, Feiqiang & Mao, Songbo & Bai, Jiaming & Qian, Lin & Xin, Chengyun, 2022. "Porous coal char-based catalyst from coal gangue and lignite with high metal contents in the catalytic cracking of biomass tar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    7. Yueshi Wu & Weihong Yang & Wlodzimierz Blasiak, 2014. "Energy and Exergy Analysis of High Temperature Agent Gasification of Biomass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Asadullah, Mohammad, 2014. "Biomass gasification gas cleaning for downstream applications: A comparative critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 118-132.
    9. Cho, Min-Hwan & Mun, Tae-Young & Choi, Young-Kon & Kim, Joo-Sik, 2014. "Two-stage air gasification of mixed plastic waste: Olivine as the bed material and effects of various additives and a nickel-plated distributor on the tar removal," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 128-134.
    10. Nicola Aldi & Nicola Casari & Michele Pinelli & Alessio Suman & Alessandro Vulpio, 2022. "Performance Degradation of a Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger Due to Tar Deposition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    11. Ahsanullah Soomro & Shiyi Chen & Shiwei Ma & Wenguo Xiang, 2018. "Catalytic activities of nickel, dolomite, and olivine for tar removal and H2-enriched gas production in biomass gasification process," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(6), pages 839-867, September.
    12. Guan, Guoqing & Kaewpanha, Malinee & Hao, Xiaogang & Abudula, Abuliti, 2016. "Catalytic steam reforming of biomass tar: Prospects and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 450-461.
    13. Yepes Maya, Diego Mauricio & Silva Lora, Electo Eduardo & Andrade, Rubenildo Vieira & Ratner, Albert & Martínez Angel, Juan Daniel, 2021. "Biomass gasification using mixtures of air, saturated steam, and oxygen in a two-stage downdraft gasifier. Assessment using a CFD modeling approach," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 1014-1030.
    14. Mendiburu, Andrés Z. & Carvalho, João A. & Coronado, Christian J.R., 2014. "Thermochemical equilibrium modeling of biomass downdraft gasifier: Stoichiometric models," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 189-201.
    15. La Villetta, M. & Costa, M. & Massarotti, N., 2017. "Modelling approaches to biomass gasification: A review with emphasis on the stoichiometric method," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 71-88.
    16. Huang, Zhen & Zheng, Anqing & Deng, Zhengbing & Wei, Guoqiang & Zhao, Kun & Chen, Dezhen & He, Fang & Zhao, Zengli & Li, Haibin & Li, Fanxing, 2020. "In-situ removal of toluene as a biomass tar model compound using NiFe2O4 for application in chemical looping gasification oxygen carrier," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    17. Weldekidan, Haftom & Strezov, Vladimir & Town, Graham, 2018. "Review of solar energy for biofuel extraction," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 184-192.
    18. Chan, Fan Liang & Tanksale, Akshat, 2014. "Review of recent developments in Ni-based catalysts for biomass gasification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 428-438.
    19. 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.
    20. Janajreh, Isam & Adeyemi, Idowu & Raza, Syed Shabbar & Ghenai, Chaouki, 2021. "A review of recent developments and future prospects in gasification systems and their modeling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:50:y:2013:i:c:p:333-342. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.