Survey of tar measurement protocols

Different sampling and analysis methods have been used by manufacturers and other workers to determine the level of particulates and organic contaminants in producer gas generated by biomass gasifier installations. This diversity of methods makes the comparison of operational data difficult and represents a barrier to the further development and commercialization of the technology. This problem was discussed by the members of the Gasification Task of the IEA Bioenergy Agreement in Zurich in October 1997. By request of Novem, Netherlands, a survey of existing tar measuring protocols was conducted with the aim to reach consensus on one uniform measuring protocol for determination of tar and dust content in producer gas flowstreams. This paper present the findings of this survey which were presented at the IEA meeting in Brussels on March 18, 1998 and at the 10th European Biomass from Energy and Waste Conference in Wurzburg, Germany on June 10, 1998. The survey contributed to the realisation of two draft protocols titled 'Provisional Protocols, Version 1998'; one for small scale and one for large scale gasifier installations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.