Experimental investigation on co-gasification of coffee husk and sawdust in a bubbling fluidised bed gasifier

Energy can be extracted from biomass through gasification. The gasification process is influenced by the physico-chemical nature of the biomass selected for gasification. Ash content and composition of the biomasses are likely to affect the gasification process. Clinker formation in the reactor bed caused by melting and agglomeration of ashes will affect the gasification process in fluidised bed gasifiers. The agglomeration tendency of the biomass is examined by carrying out the Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy analysis on biomass ash to identify the presence of elements like potassium and sodium responsible for agglomeration. Experimental investigations on the gasification of coffee husk revealed that coffee husk is prone to agglomeration even though the hydrogen yield is more. However, gasification of saw dust is not vulnerable to agglomeration. Co-gasification of coffee husk with sawdust (which is less prone to agglomeration) is investigated experimentally. (C) 2018 Energy Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.