S. Pandey et al.

: Prediction of Syngas Composition from Biomass Gasification using Thermodynamics Equilibrium Model

Prediction of Syngas Composition from Biomass Gasification

using Thermodynamics Equilibrium Model
Suraj Pandey*, Bivek Baral, Sumit Karki, and Aadarsh Upreti
Engine Combustion and Gasification Laboratory, Kathmandu University
Abstract Biomass is now regarded as the next alternative
to fossil fuel. The thermo chemical conversion of biomass is one
of the most promising forms of future clean energy.

understanding of the gasification process and how its design,

feedstock, and operating parameters influence the
performance of the plant [1].

In the present study, the thermodynamic model is

simulated to study the effect of preset reaction temperature
with respect to moisture content on gas mole fraction at the
output of the downdraft gasifier. The minimization of Gibbs
free energy is used as the thermodynamic model. Equivalence
ratio and output gas higher heating values variation of the
downdraft gasifier are also predicted for various values of
moisture content.1

The thermodynamics equilibrium model is used at the

present study to predict the syngas composition for various
known biomass feed stocks. The thermodynamics
equilibrium model is simplest of all other types and provides
the output with reasonable accuracy. The model uses the
chemical equilibrium with minimization of Gibbs free
energy concept. The model best predicts the syngas
composition when the reaction temperature is sufficiently
high [2] but due to thermodynamic limit most of the work is
limited to 800 oC [3].

I. INTRODUCTION
The fossil fuel and other form of energy crisis are
common problem in Nepal as it does not have its own fossil
fuel reserve. With severe power cuts and in-sufficient
energy, Nepal is facing huge economy loss from importing
fossil fuels from neighbor country.
The recent advancement of utilizing biomass for energy
generation is seen viable and practical option for fulfilling
the energy demand for industries and sustainable energy
generation. The biomass is the only source of carbon-based
renewable fuels, and the proper and sustainable exploitation
of this resource is essential to secure the Nepals energy
security. Biomass gasification has received the highest
priority as back up fuel to energy in Nepal to produce
electricity and thermal application.
Further, biomass gasification shows a higher efficiency
for energy generation using IC engines or gas turbines than
directly combustion of biomass and running steam engines
for power generation [1]. The syngas is the result of partial
combustion of biomass in the gasifier or reactor with limited
supply of air. The result gas after partial combustion with air
as the gasifying medium is the mixture of carbon monoxide
(CO), hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2),
water (H2O) and nitrogen (N2). Syngas generation is now
considered matured and acceptable technology compared to
other biomass conversion technologies. The variation of
biomass species and demographic condition affects the
selection of biomass use in gasifier reactor. In Nepal, Terai
region (Low-land) has the abundant forest and agro-residue.
The Terai region is the place where Nepal holds the major
large and medium industries. These biomass feed stocks
vary in their composition, which ultimately affects the
syngas composition. Most of the time, the composition of
syngas is unknown until the gasification experimental work
is conducted. Experimental work is always time and money
intensive and mathematical model formulation is always
helpful for determining the concentrations of syngas major
components using the ultimate analysis of biomass.
Moreover, the design and operation of a gasifier requires an

Although this model can be used to predict the syngas

composition for any type of gasifier, it is more accurate to
compare the results with downdraft gasifier type as it is the
only gasifier that exits with lower tar concentration and
higher tar conversion [1].

II. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Model formulation
There are several factors affecting syngas composition
from biomass, it mainly depends on the gasifier types,
feedstock and feedstock treatment, gasifying medium and
operating parameters such as pressure, reaction temperature,
equivalence ratio and moisture content in the biomass [4].
For the thermodynamic model formulation [5-6], following
assumption was made:
a.

b.

c.

d.
e.

f.

The biomass is composed of carbon, hydrogen,

oxygen and nitrogen element only. The presence of
sulfur and other minerals is not taken in to account.
All the carbon content in biomass is converted in
gaseous forms and the residence time is very
enough to achieve thermodynamic equilibrium.
The products occurred in the syngas is composed of
CO, CO2, H2, CH4, N2 and water only. Moreover,
these above gases are treated as ideal gas. Tar is not
taken into account.
The pressure drop inside the gasifier was assumed
to be negligible.
The reaction is auto thermal and no external heat
source was applied. The reactor is completely
adiabatic so that no heat loss can occur from the
gasifier.
The amount of air is self varied to adjust the on-set
reaction temperature of 1073 oK or above so that
auto thermal sustainability can be occurred.

The chemical composition of biomass was taken to be in

the form
   and the gasification reaction can be
written in the following form:

* Corresponding author: surazpandey@gmail.com

Rentech Symposium Compendium, Volume 3, September 2013

S. Pandey et al.: Prediction of Syngas Composition from Biomass Gasification using Thermodynamics Equilibrium Model

   +
   +   + 3.76 

 +   + 
 +   

+ 
 +  +  3.76 
2
(1)
Where mw in Equation 1 can be calculated using the
following relation.

 !"#$%% &
'(&

(2)

The elemental balance gives:

 +  +  = 1

* + 2
 = 2  + 2  + 4 

, +
 + 2  =  + 2  + 

(3)
(4)
(5)

The major reaction that occurs inside the downdraft

reactor is as follows:

+
 2


+  
 + 

(6)
(7)

The two reactions shown above can be combined into

one single reaction known as water-gas shift reaction

 +  
 + 

(8)

The other reaction that is prominent in the gasification

process is formation of methane as shown below:

+ 2


(9)

The equilibrium constant for these two above equation as

the function of their molar composition can be written as
follows:
- =

./ .0

(10)

.3

(11)

.1 .2

and
- =

.00

45467

Where, 45467 is the total number of gaseous moles in the

gasifier reactor.
The equilibrium constant of the methane production is
dependent of temperature and pressure, but the water gas
shift reaction is only dependent of temperature because the
total pressure disappears when the equation (K1) is
simplified.
Gibbs free energy is used in determining the value of K1
and K2. For the given ideal gas, the Gibbs free energy is a
strong function of the reaction temperature and a weak
function of pressure.

Rentech Symposium Compendium, Volume 3, September 2013

ln -: =

=>

(12)

?@

5
HHHHHH
A@ = C C D
E,@,G

(13)

5
HHHHHH
Where, D
E,@,G is empirically calculated.

To solve the equation system, the only missing equation

is the energy balance, and the enthalpy of reactants entering
must be same as enthalpy of reactants of products leaving
the system.
IJ6K46L4M = NI5OPK4M
5
IJ6K46L4M = E,QC5&6MM
+

NI5OPK4M

(14)
R

Z\&] ,.^

5
ST @%U$VU0WX @,Z + E,Z
[


=  + 3.76   _'(@"`U @,a0
2
5
+ R C _'(@"`U @,C + E,C

bCb

The enthalpy of formation, Gibbs free energy and

specific heat capacity of various gases coefficients is
calculated empirically. The sensible heat (hT) and
chemically bond energy (heat of formation, hf) gives the
total enthalpy for reactants and products respectively. The
reference temperature in the system is set to 298 K because
the heat of formation (hf) is given at this temperature. The
temperature of the syngas (Tout) is same as that of reaction
temperature in the gasifier. The heat of formation for
biomass can be calculated from the model developed by
Zainal et al [2].
5
E,QC5&6MM
= cd + LC\ eC fC

(15)

LHV is calculated in dry basis of biomass and is

calculated using the following equation:
81
+ 300 26 j
cd = 4.187 h
l mn/mD
69 +

(16)
The model now has complete sets of equation and is
solved in MATLAB [7] programming platform. NewtonJacobi iteration was used for solving these equations. The
program can handle the input as elemental composition of
biomass supplied as ultimate analysis in the form of C-H-ON-Ash and the preset reaction temperature in Kelvin scale.
Once the input parameters are defined the program
automatically calculates the equivalence ratio to maintain
the preset temperature with respect to moisture content. It is
desirable to set reaction temperature of 1073 K for self
sustain gasification system. The program also features to
plot the output results with varying moisture content from
zero to self sustain moisture content in biomass dry basis.

S. Pandey et al.: Prediction of Syngas Composition from Biomass Gasification using Thermodynamics Equilibrium Model

Fig. 1: Effect of moisture content on equivalence ratio (above) and HHV

HHV of syngas generated (below)

III. RESULTS
The Fig. 2 reflects the simulation of the model for the
Eucalyptus wood having the elemental composition in the
form C-H-O-N as 49.5-6.3-42.0-00 respectively [8]. The
reaction temperature is set to 1073 K.
The model simulation results has shown that with the
increase
se of moisture content on preset reaction temperature
of 1073 K att the gasifier reactor in Fig. 1, the CO level has
decreased, N2 has been increased, H2 has increased up to its
certain limit of the moisture content and starts to decrease
again. Similarly, CO2 has been increased at the expense of
CO. Interestingly, the CH4 is far below than the practical
results. The thermodynamics model under predicts the CH4
composition. The CH4 under prediction results is also stated
by [9].
ion result shown in Fig.
Fig 1
On the other hand, the simulation
reflects the effect of moisture content on HHV of syngas for
the Ecaulyptus wood. With the increase in moisture content,
the HHV of the syngas generated has been decreased.

Fig. 2: Effect of moisture content on syngas species on dry basis

for Eucalyptus wood

Moreover, with the increase in moisture content, the

equivalence
ivalence ratio for gasification to maintain the 1073 K
preset temperature, has been increased.

Rentech Symposium Compendium, Volume 3, September 2013

S. Pandey et al.: Prediction of Syngas Composition from Biomass Gasification using Thermodynamics Equilibrium Model

IV. DISCUSSION
a) Effect of moisture content on N2 formation to run at
preset reaction temperature:
From Fig. 2, it can be seen clearly that, with the increase
of moisture content the volume mole fraction in dry basis of
nitrogen has been increased. The fact for increasing the
nitrogen volume fraction is due to more air from atmosphere
is required to compensate and maintain the reaction
temperature of 1073 K. The higher the moisture content
more heat energy is required to liberate the moisture from
the biomass and more air is required to sustain and maintain
the heat and temperature. This is the reason for Fig. 2; the
equivalence ratio has also been increased and thus decreases
in HHV of the syngas generated.
b) Effect of moisture content on CO formation to run at
preset reaction temperature:
From Fig. 1, it can be seen clearly that, with the increase
of moisture content the volume mole fraction in dry basis for
carbon-monoxide has been decreased. With increase in
moisture content, the water-gas shift reaction takes place
favoring the production of H2 and CO2. Although the favor
of highest energy hydrogen is produced, but hydrogen has
lower energy density compared to the carbon-monoxide in
terms of volume basis. This is the reason where HHV of
syngas generated has decreased with the increase in
moisture content and production of hydrogen at the expense
of carbon-monoxide.
c) Effect of moisture content on H2 formation to run at
preset reaction temperature:
From Fig. 1, it can be seen clearly that, with the increase
of moisture content the volume mole fraction in dry basis of
hydrogen has been increased to the extent where water-gas
shift reaction is favored and starts to decline. The maximum
hydrogen production is favored at the point where the
formation of carbon-monoxide and carbon-dioxide are at the
equilibrium mole fraction. Upon increasing the moisture
content, the more air is introduced into the reactor to
maintain the preset temperature and thus CO gets more

Rentech Symposium Compendium, Volume 3, September 2013

oxygen to react to get oxidize and form CO2. The other

reason to maintain the preset temperature is at the expense
of combustion of H2, and CO with increase in equivalence
ratio.

V. CONCLUSIONS
The mathematical formulation works with reasonable
accuracy, however it best works for low ash content as heat
absorbed by ash is ignored in the model. The perfect
adiabatic condition is not realizable in practical case.
Moisture content reduces the concentration of CO mole
fraction significantly and thus reduces the HHV of the gas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to acknowledge Renewable
Nepal program at Kathmandu University for supporting the
project PID-248. The authors also like to thank Dr.
Bhupendra Bimal Chhetri and other staffs of the Renewable
Nepal program office.
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