CFD analysis and characterization of biochar produced via fixed-bed gasification of fallen leaf pellets

William A. González and Juan F. Pérez

Energy, 2019, vol. 186, issue C

Abstract: Biochar (BC) is a solid byproduct of gasification and could be valorized looking for contributing to the feasibility of gasification projects. In this study, the effect of airflow during fixed-bed gasification of pelletized fallen leaves to BC was evaluated at 0.075 and 0.150 kg/s/m2. The influence of glycerol in the leaf feedstock was also studied, and the gasification products were characterized. BC formation under gasification conditions was simulated using a two-dimensional (2D) unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. When airflow was increased, convective heat transfer from the gas to the solid phase increased by 250%, and absorption of radiative heat transfer in the solid phase increased by 59%. This was ascribed to the increase in the process temperature, which also promoted the release of volatile matter. The H:C and O:C ratios in the feedstocks were reduced by 80% and 92%, respectively. The surface areas and pore volumes of the samples increased by up to 50%. The BC with the largest surface area (68.63 m2/g) also had the highest total organic carbon content (21.3%) and the highest water retention capacity (408.13%). The pH of the BCs obtained in the study ranged from 8.7 to 10, making them suitable for acid soils.

Keywords: Pelletized garden waste; Gasification; Biochar applications; Numerical analysis; Solid biofuel; Soil amendment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:186:y:2019:i:c:s0360544219315828

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.115904

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