IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v18y2025i19p5112-d1758415.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Modelling Syngas Combustion from Biomass Gasification and Engine Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Author

Listed:
  • José Ramón Copa Rey

    (VALORIZA–Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300−555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Andrei Longo

    (VALORIZA–Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300−555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Bruna Rijo

    (VALORIZA–Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300−555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Cecilia Mateos-Pedrero

    (VALORIZA–Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300−555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Paulo Brito

    (VALORIZA–Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300−555 Portalegre, Portugal)

  • Catarina Nobre

    (VALORIZA–Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization, Portalegre Polytechnic University, Campus Politécnico 10, 7300−555 Portalegre, Portugal)

Abstract

Syngas, a renewable fuel primarily composed of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, is emerging as a viable alternative to conventional fossil fuels in internal combustion engines (ICEs). Obtained mainly through the gasification of biomass and organic waste, syngas offers significant environmental benefits but also presents challenges due to its lower heating value and variable composition. This review establishes recent advances in understanding syngas combustion, chemical kinetics, and practical applications in spark-ignition (SI) and compression-ignition (CI) engines. Variability in syngas composition, dependent on feedstock and gasification conditions, strongly influences ignition behavior, flame stability, and emissions, demanding detailed kinetic models and adaptive engine control strategies. In SI engines, syngas can replace up to 100% of conventional fuel, typically at 20–30% reduced power output. CI engines generally require a pilot fuel representing 10–20% of total energy to start combustion, favoring dual-fuel (DF) operation for efficiency and emissions control. This work underlines the need to integrate advanced modelling approaches with experimental insights to optimize performance and meet emission targets. By addressing challenges of fuel variability and engine adaptation, syngas reveals promising potential as a clean fuel for future sustainable power generation and transport applications.

Suggested Citation

  • José Ramón Copa Rey & Andrei Longo & Bruna Rijo & Cecilia Mateos-Pedrero & Paulo Brito & Catarina Nobre, 2025. "Modelling Syngas Combustion from Biomass Gasification and Engine Applications: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5112-:d:1758415
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/19/5112/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/19/5112/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Navid Kousheshi & Mortaza Yari & Amin Paykani & Ali Saberi Mehr & German F. de la Fuente, 2020. "Effect of Syngas Composition on the Combustion and Emissions Characteristics of a Syngas/Diesel RCCI Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Ghulamullah Maitlo & Imran Ali & Kashif Hussain Mangi & Safdar Ali & Hubdar Ali Maitlo & Imran Nazir Unar & Abdul Majeed Pirzada, 2022. "Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass for Syngas Production: Current Status and Future Trends," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-30, February.
    3. Janjira Hongrapipat & Reinhard Rauch & Shusheng Pang & Pansa Liplap & Weerachai Arjharn & Michael Messner & Christian Henrich & Markus Koch & Hermann Hofbauer, 2022. "Co-Gasification of Refuse Derived Fuel and Wood Chips in the Nong Bua Dual Fluidised Bed Gasification Power Plant in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Haoran Zhao & Chunmiao Yuan & Gang Li & Fuchao Tian, 2024. "The Propagation Characteristics of Turbulent Expanding Flames of Methane/Hydrogen Blending Gas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, November.
    5. Giuseppe Toscano & Carmine De Francesco & Thomas Gasperini & Sara Fabrizi & Daniele Duca & Alessio Ilari, 2023. "Quality Assessment and Classification of Feedstock for Bioenergy Applications Considering ISO 17225 Standard on Solid Biofuels," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, May.
    6. Qian, Yong & Sun, Shuzhou & Ju, Dehao & Shan, Xinxing & Lu, Xingcai, 2017. "Review of the state-of-the-art of biogas combustion mechanisms and applications in internal combustion engines," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 50-58.
    7. Han, Fengtao & Niu, Yonghong & Zhang, Xiaowu & Guo, Zhenjie & Duan, Shuangping & Liu, Haijing & Lu, Bin & Chen, Hui, 2024. "Performance analysis of a pilot gasification system of biomass with stepwise intake of air-steam considering waste heat utilization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    8. Carlo Caligiuri & Urban Žvar Baškovič & Massimiliano Renzi & Tine Seljak & Samuel Rodman Oprešnik & Marco Baratieri & Tomaž Katrašnik, 2021. "Complementing Syngas with Natural Gas in Spark Ignition Engines for Power Production: Effects on Emissions and Combustion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    9. Mu, Qingnan & Aleem, Rao Danish & Liu, Chang & Elendu, Collins Chimezie & Cao, Changqing & Duan, Pei-Gao, 2024. "Oxygen blown steam gasification of different kinds of lignocellulosic biomass for the production of hydrogen-rich syngas," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
    10. J. R. Copa & C. E. Tuna & J. L. Silveira & R. A. M. Boloy & P. Brito & V. Silva & J. Cardoso & D. Eusébio, 2020. "Techno-Economic Assessment of the Use of Syngas Generated from Biomass to Feed an Internal Combustion Engine," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-31, June.
    11. Valentina Segneri & Jean Henry Ferrasse & Antonio Trinca & Giorgio Vilardi, 2022. "An Overview of Waste Gasification and Syngas Upgrading Processes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-7, September.
    12. Kan, Xiang & Zhou, Dezhi & Yang, Wenming & Zhai, Xiaoqiang & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2018. "An investigation on utilization of biogas and syngas produced from biomass waste in premixed spark ignition engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 210-222.
    13. Bhaduri, Subir & Jeanmart, Hervé & Contino, Francesco, 2018. "EGR control on operation of a tar tolerant HCCI engine with simulated syngas from biomass," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C), pages 159-167.
    14. Katarzyna Śpiewak, 2024. "Gasification of Sewage Sludge—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-31, September.
    15. Barskov, Stan & Zappi, Mark & Buchireddy, Prashanth & Dufreche, Stephen & Guillory, John & Gang, Daniel & Hernandez, Rafael & Bajpai, Rakesh & Baudier, Jeff & Cooper, Robbyn & Sharp, Richard, 2019. "Torrefaction of biomass: A review of production methods for biocoal from cultured and waste lignocellulosic feedstocks," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 624-642.
    16. Costa, M. & La Villetta, M. & Massarotti, N. & Piazzullo, D. & Rocco, V., 2017. "Numerical analysis of a compression ignition engine powered in the dual-fuel mode with syngas and biodiesel," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 969-979.
    17. Li, Jie & Suvarna, Manu & Pan, Lanjia & Zhao, Yingru & Wang, Xiaonan, 2021. "A hybrid data-driven and mechanistic modelling approach for hydrothermal gasification," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    18. Talibi, Midhat & Hellier, Paul & Ladommatos, Nicos, 2017. "Combustion and exhaust emission characteristics, and in-cylinder gas composition, of hydrogen enriched biogas mixtures in a diesel engine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 397-412.
    19. Neshat, Elaheh & Saray, Rahim Khoshbakhti & Hosseini, Vahid, 2016. "Effect of reformer gas blending on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion of primary reference fuels using multi zone model and semi detailed chemical-kinetic mechanism," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 463-478.
    20. Yao, Xiwen & Zhao, Zhicheng & Li, Jishuo & Zhang, Bohan & Zhou, Haodong & Xu, Kaili, 2020. "Experimental investigation of physicochemical and slagging characteristics of inorganic constituents in ash residues from gasification of different herbaceous biomass," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    21. Krishnamoorthi, M. & Sreedhara, S. & Prakash Duvvuri, Pavan, 2020. "Experimental, numerical and exergy analyses of a dual fuel combustion engine fuelled with syngas and biodiesel/diesel blends," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    22. Michela Costa & Daniele Piazzullo, 2024. "The Effects of Syngas Composition on Engine Thermal Balance in a Biomass Powered CHP Unit: A 3D CFD Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-21, 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. Fiore, M. & Magi, V. & Viggiano, A., 2020. "Internal combustion engines powered by syngas: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    2. Wei, Zhilong & Zhen, Haisheng & Leung, Chunwah & Cheung, Chunshun & Huang, Zuohua, 2020. "Effects of unburned gases velocity on the CO/NO2/NOx formations and overall emissions of laminar premixed biogas-hydrogen impinging flame," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    3. Costa, M. & Di Blasio, G. & Prati, M.V. & Costagliola, M.A. & Cirillo, D. & La Villetta, M. & Caputo, C. & Martoriello, G., 2020. "Multi-objective optimization of a syngas powered reciprocating engine equipping a combined heat and power unit," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    4. Saaida Khlifi & Marzouk Lajili & Patrick Perré & Victor Pozzobon, 2022. "A Numerical Study of Turbulent Combustion of a Lignocellulosic Gas Mixture in an Updraft Fixed Bed Reactor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    5. Quintero-Coronel, Daniel A. & Salazar, Adalberto & Pupo-Roncallo, Oscar R. & Bula, Antonio & Corredor, Lesme & Amador, German & Gonzalez-Quiroga, Arturo, 2023. "Assessment of the interchangeability of coal-biomass syngas with natural gas for atmospheric burners and high-pressure combustion applications," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    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. Ahari, Mehrdad Farajzadeh & Neshat, Elaheh, 2019. "Advanced analysis of various effects of water on natural gas HCCI combustion, emissions and chemical procedure using artificial inert species," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 842-852.
    8. Kan, Xiang & Wei, Liping & Li, Xian & Li, Han & Zhou, Dezhi & Yang, Wenming & Wang, Chi-Hwa, 2020. "Effects of the three dual-fuel strategies on performance and emissions of a biodiesel engine," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 262(C).
    9. Carlo Caligiuri & Urban Žvar Baškovič & Massimiliano Renzi & Tine Seljak & Samuel Rodman Oprešnik & Marco Baratieri & Tomaž Katrašnik, 2021. "Complementing Syngas with Natural Gas in Spark Ignition Engines for Power Production: Effects on Emissions and Combustion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-18, June.
    10. Doppalapudi, A.T. & Azad, A.K. & Khan, M.M.K., 2021. "Combustion chamber modifications to improve diesel engine performance and reduce emissions: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    11. Gad, M.S. & Uysal, Cuneyt & El-Shafay, A.S. & Ağbulut, Ümit, 2024. "Exergetic and exergoeconomic assessments of a diesel engine fuelled with waste chicken fat biodiesel-diesel blends," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
    12. Zhao, Xiqiang & Zhou, Xing & Wang, Guoxiu & Zhou, Ping & Wang, Wenlong & Song, Zhanlong, 2022. "Evaluating the effect of torrefaction on the pyrolysis of biomass and the biochar catalytic performance on dry reforming of methane," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 313-325.
    13. Sui, Haiqing & Chen, Jianfeng & Cheng, Wei & Zhu, Youjian & Zhang, Wennan & Hu, Junhao & Jiang, Hao & Shao, Jing'ai & Chen, Hanping, 2024. "Effect of oxidative torrefaction on fuel and pelletizing properties of agricultural biomass in comparison with non-oxidative torrefaction," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    14. Huang, Shengxiong & Lei, Can & Qin, Jie & Yi, Cheng & Chen, Tao & Yao, Lingling & Li, Bo & Wen, Yujiao & Zhou, Zhi & Xia, Mao, 2022. "Properties, kinetics and pyrolysis products distribution of oxidative torrefied camellia shell in different oxygen concentration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C).
    15. Marietta Markiewicz & Łukasz Muślewski, 2019. "The Impact of Powering an Engine with Fuels from Renewable Energy Sources including its Software Modification on a Drive Unit Performance Parameters," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-16, November.
    16. Giulio Allesina & Simone Pedrazzi, 2021. "Barriers to Success: A Technical Review on the Limits and Possible Future Roles of Small Scale Gasifiers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    17. Diego Perrone & Teresa Castiglione & Pietropaolo Morrone & Ferdinando Pantano & Sergio Bova, 2023. "Energetic, Economic and Environmental Performance Analysis of a Micro-Combined Cooling, Heating and Power (CCHP) System Based on Biomass Gasification," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-22, September.
    18. Yoonah Jeong & Jae-Sung Kim & Ye-Eun Lee & Dong-Chul Shin & Kwang-Ho Ahn & Jinhong Jung & Kyeong-Ho Kim & Min-Jong Ku & Seung-Mo Kim & Chung-Hwan Jeon & I-Tae Kim, 2023. "Investigation and Optimization of Co-Combustion Efficiency of Food Waste Biochar and Coal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-12, October.
    19. Mikulski, Maciej & Balakrishnan, Praveen Ramanujam & Hunicz, Jacek, 2019. "Natural gas-diesel reactivity controlled compression ignition with negative valve overlap and in-cylinder fuel reforming," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    20. Santa Margarida Santos & Ana Carolina Assis & Leandro Gomes & Catarina Nobre & Paulo Brito, 2022. "Waste Gasification Technologies: A Brief Overview," Waste, MDPI, vol. 1(1), pages 1-26, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:19:p:5112-:d:1758415. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.