Performance - Evaluation of Lignite in a Downdraft Gasi fier

Abstract

Gasi cation is an alternative for fossil fuels. It can contribute to the demand for heat, electricity and syngas. Various biomass have been use extensively as a fuel for gasi fiers. Extensive literature is also available on coal gasi fication. Lignite being low grad coal forms clinker when used as a fuel in boilers of thermal power stations. Gujarat has large reserves of lignite. In this work, an attempt is made to evaluate lignite as a fuel in downdraft gasifi er for decentralizes power generation gasi fier. A 10kWe downdraft gasi fier was developed with the Financial support of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of INDIA. This study presents the results of experiment investigation on effect of fuel size on gas generation rate, calorifi c value of producer gas and gasi fier e fficiency. For the experimental purpose, seven different sizes of lignite were selected. They were in the range of 13-16 mm to 31-35 mm. It was observed that better calori c value (936.26 kcal/m3) and e ciency of gasi er (73.02%) were obtained with particle size 22-25 mm. Experiments were also performed with co- ring of lignite and wood (1:1) to evaluate the effect of cone angle on performance of gasi fier. Experiments were performed cone angle 30º, 100 mm throat diameter and cone angle 45º, 125 mm throat diameter respectively. It was observed that performance is better with gasifi er having 30º cone angle, 100 mm throat diameter.