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Gasification and power generation characteristics of woody

biomass utilizing a downdraft gasifier

Young-Il Son, Sang Jun Yoon, Yong Ku Kim, Jae-Goo Lee*

Climate Change Technology Research Division, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 71-2 Jang-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-343,
Republic of Korea

article info abstract

Article history: Energy utilization from biomass resources has started to attract public attention as
Received 18 December 2007 a method to reduce CO2 emissions. In this study, the characteristics of syngas production
Received in revised form from biomass gasification were investigated in a downdraft gasifier that was combined
22 June 2011 with a small gas engine system for power generation. Syngas temperatures from the
Accepted 5 July 2011 gasifier were maintained at a level of 700e1000
C. When the air ratio for gasification was
Available online 30 July 2011 0.3e0.35, the low heating value of syngas was 1100e1200 kcal Nm3 and the cold gas
efficiency 69e72%. Tar concentration in raw syngas was around 3.9e4.4 g Nm3. Syngas
Keywords: combustion in the gas engine after purification showed that HC concentration was below
Gasification 200 ppm, and NOx concentration was below 40 ppm in the exhaust gas.
Syngas ª 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biomass
Power generation

1. Introduction such that the development of a gasification power generation

Biomass is a biological material containing energy stored in
organic compounds generated by means of photosynthesis.
Compared with that of fossil fuel, the energy density of
biomass is too small to make it useful as an energy source. In
particular, to utilize it industrially, biomass should be con-
verted into an easy to use form. For example, if it is converted
by means of liquefaction, gasification, and electrical genera-
tion, it can be used in existing equipment. To this end, diverse
studies are underway, until now mainly using direct
combustion methods. In terms of power generation utilizing
biomass by direct combustion, there are many cases in Europe
and Japan. But the disadvantage of this method is that treat-
ment facilities must be large, because the efficiency of the
steam turbines is enhanced as the scale of power generation
becomes larger. For this reason, the actual circumstances are
method having comparatively high efficiency even on a small
scale is actively being promoted [1e4]. Since biomass has
comparatively high H/C ratio, it can be said that biomass
gasification is more convenient than gasification of coal.
Moreover, heavy metals, sulfur and nitrogen are present in
very small amounts in biomass that the production of SOx and
NOx from generated gases is small; and poisoning of the
catalyst is not a big problem. It can be said that the biggest
problem in commercializing the biomass gasification process
is the high cost of collection and transportation of biomass.
But, considering that sufficient numbers of coal and waste
gasification processes are already operating in various coun-
tries, it is projected that the conversion of biomass into
practical use will be very promising. Biomass gasification
technologies can be provided that the supply problem of
biomass is solved to some extent [5]. One of the reasons that

* Corresponding author. Tel.: þ82 42 8603353; fax: þ82 42 8603134

E-mail address: jaegoo@kier.re.kr (J.-G. Lee).
0961-9534/$ e see front matter ª 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2011.07.008
4216 b i o m a s s a n d b i o e n e r g y 3 5 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 4 2 1 5 e4 2 2 0
gasification has not been easily commercialized, in spite of the
many advantages of biomass, is that tar and soot, which are
generated as impurities among the syngas generated by the
gasification of biomass, stick to pipes and to the heat
exchanger, interrupting continuous operation as well as
reducing the efficiency of power generation equipment such
as gas engines and gas turbines, etc [6,7]. To improve the
quality of the syngas generated in the gasification process and
to increase carbon conversion, it may be said that it would be
better to convert tar into syngas by means of thermo-chemical
conversion rather than by the physical elimination of
components such as tar or soot, which are difficult to
decompose. Therefore, in this experiment, the downdraft
gasifier, having a comparatively simple structure and low tar
generation volume, was desinged and subjected to experi-
ment. This equipment is similar to the updraft type gasifier
except for the point that the gasification agent and syngas
flows toward the lower end of the reactor. The generated gas
flows toward the lower end of the reactor, and then generates
syngas through the reaction with char at about 800-1100
C.
The advantages of the downdraft gasifier are approximately
90% or more of tar generated during the gasification can be
eliminated, and, in the case of ash removal, the load of the
dust collection equipment in the downstream can be reduced
since it can be treated together with unreacted carbon in the
lower end of the reactor. Moreover, it is because the process is
simple like the other fixed-bed gasifier, that the initial
investment cost is low, and the mothod used can be classified
as a well-known technology. In this study, the characteristics
of syngas generated from biomass were investigated by
utilizing the downdraft gasifier, and the characteristics of
application to a gas engine were investigated for the syngas
actually generated.
2. Experimental
2.1. Sample
Wood chip sorted into sizes ranging from 3 to 5 cm for the
experiment was used as fuel. The results of proximate and
ultimate analysis are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 e Proximate, ultimate and higher heating value
analysis.
Proximate analysis
Item Wood chip
Moisture (wt%) 21.7
Volatile (wt%) 60.9
Fixed carbon (wt%) 14.3
Ash (wt%) 3.9
Ultimate analysis
C (wt%) 46.5
H (wt%) 5.8
O (wt%) 43.5
N (wt%) 0.2
S (wt%) 0.1
HHV (kcal kg1) 4130
2.2. Experimental apparatus
Fig.1 shows a diagram of the gasification equipment system
flow used in this study. This gasification system is constructed
with a downdraft gasifier, cyclone, scrubber, dust filter, boiler,
and engine. Fig. 2 shows the structure of the downdraft
gasifier. In this gasification unit, syngas is produced by reac-
tion of biomass with the supplied air as a gasification agent
from the top side. The system is constructed with a hopper for
supplying biomass to the combustion part. The combustion
part is located in the lower end of the upper hopper. Where the
biomass to be supplied from the upper hopper is combusted,
the air injection part provides air for gasification, which is
injected from the side of the upper combustion part. The gas
discharge hole is where gas generated by the combustion and
the gasification action of the biomass is discharged. The ash
treatment system, which is located in the lower end of upper
combustion part treats the ash component generated after the
reaction of gasification.
Biomass falling from the hopper is dried and partially
decomposed by the flame of the combustion part, and this
material is mixed again in the upper combustion part. By
maintaining the flow of biomass and air together from the
upper part to the lower part so that less tar is generated,
generated tar is induced to decompose in the combustion part
at high temperature. Char generated after combustion, and
combustion gas of high temperature, are gasified while
moving together to the lower part, and combustion gas
becomes able to maintain temperature for gasification by
means of a heat insulation layer. After the ash component
remaining from gasification reaction falls to the lower part
through the grate and is cooled with water, it is collected
through the ash collection part.
2.3. Experimental method
In the experimental conditions implemented in this experi-
ment, the feeding rate of wood chip is 40e45 kg h1, and the
temperature was maintained at 1000
C on the basis of the
combustion part. Average gasification operation conditions
are shown in Table 2. the gas generated for analysis was
Fig. 1 e Flow diagram of the downdraft gasification power
generation system.
 b i o m a s s a n d b i o e n e r g y 3 5 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 4 2 1 5 e4 2 2 0 4217

25
H2
CO
20 CO2
CH4

Gas composition (vol%)

O2
15

10

500 600 700 800 900

Gasification temperature (oC)

Fig. 3 e Effect of temperature at the middle section in the

gasifier on the composition of syngas.
Fig. 2 e The structure of the downdraft gasifier.

concentration shows a trend of linear increase as the

collected from the sampling port installed at the exit of the
temperature increases according to the Boudouard reaction
dust filter in the prior stage of the gas engine; this gas
(C þ CO2 / 2CO), and the CO2 concentration shows a trend of
underwent pretreatment by cooling, and was then analyzed
linear increase up to about 700
C and a trend of decrease after
by using an on-line analyzer (GC, HP6890). Tar for analysis was
that temperature.
collected from the sampling port installed at the exit of the
gasification unit; this tar was then analyzed in accordance
with “The Guideline for Sampling and Analysis of Tar and 3.2. Gasifier performance with air ration
Particles in Biomass Producer Gases Version 3.3” proposed by
J. P. A. Neeft [8]. The low heating value of syngas and the cold gas efficiency
with the change of gasification air ratio are shown in Fig. 4.
The gasification air ratio was calculated from the amount of
oxygen fed into the gasifier divided by the amount of oxygen
3. Results and discussion
required for complete fuel combustion. As the gasification air
ratio increased up to 0.35, the low heating value increased.
3.1. Effect of temperature on syngas composition
However, when the gasification air ratio reached above 0.5,
the syngas heating value decreased gradually. If the gasifica-
The inside temperature of the gasification unit was measured
tion air ratio is increased to maintain the temperature of the
in the combustion zones of char and of volatile matter. In this
gasifier, it is thought that parts of the tar and combustible gas
experiment, the temperature was measured at 700e850
C in
are combusted and, thereby, the heating value of syngas
the char gasification part, and at 800e1000
C in the gasifica-
decreases. Moreover, the increase of nitrogen dilution amount
tion part where volatile matters is combusted. The tempera-
due to the increased gasification air ratio also acts as a reason
ture in the zone of char combustion was a little lower than the
for the decreased heating value of the syngas. In this
gasification temperature in the combustion zone of volatile
matters. Fig. 3 shows the relation between temperature in the
1400 100
middle part of the gasifier and the composition of syngas. As
the temperature increases, a trend of increase in the H2 LHV
Cold gas efficiency
concentration and linear decrease in the CH4 concentration 1200 80
Cold gas efficiency (%)

can be seen. Form these results, it can be seen that the reac-
LHV (kcal/Nm3)

tion of CH4 þ H2O / CO þ 3H2 is dominant. The CO 1000 60

800 40

Table 2 e Average gasification operation conditions.

600 20
Component Name Operational Conditions

Wood Chip Feed Rate 40e55 kg h1 400 0

0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Air ratio 0.2e0.85
Gasifier Temperature (middle) 700e850
C Air ratio

Gasifier Temperature (bottom) 800e1000
C

Fig. 4 e Effect of gasification air ratio on low heating value
Syngas flow 50e130 Nm3 h1
of syngas, and cold gas efficiency.
4218 b i o m a s s a n d b i o e n e r g y 3 5 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 4 2 1 5 e4 2 2 0

Table 3 e Specification of the gas engine/generator.

30 1400
Engine Model e CD800L
25
1200 Type e OHC
Number of Cylinders e 3
Gas composition (vol%)

1000 Displacement cc 796

20

LHV (kcal/Nm )
Bore  Stroke (mm  mm) 70  69

3
800
Compression Ratio e 10
15
Maximum Power PS rpm1 38/4900
600
Maximum Torque kg m rpm1 6.3/2200
H2
10 Generator Output kW 10
CO 400
CO2 Type e EK2LCT
CH4
5
200 Engine speed rpm 3600
LHV
Voltage V 220
0 0 Frequency Lh1 60
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Time (min)

in the secondly impinger bottle at 15
C. After the tar solu-

Fig. 5 e Syngas composition and low heating value profiles
with the elapsed time.
experiment, when the gasification air ratio is around 0.3e0.35,
a low heating value of 1100e1200 kcal Nm3 and the cold gas
efficiency of 69e72% can be obtained. In Fig. 5, the composi-
tion of syngas and, the low heating value following the
elapsed time upon operation with a gasification air ratio of
0.32e0.37, are shown. The average concentration of generated
syngas is shown to be H2:16.5%, CO:15.9%, CH4:2.1%, and
CO2:15.3%, and the average of the low heating value is shown
to be 1100 kcal Nm3.
It is generally known that the minimum calorific value
required in the application of syngas to a gas engine should be
above 1000 kcal Nm3 [9]. From the above experimental
results, when wood chip of 40e45 kg h1 is supplied, it can be
understood that syngas having a low heating value of
1100e1200 kcal Nm3 and flow of around 80-100 Nm3 h1 will
be generated.
3.3. Tar sampling and measurement
Fig.6 shows the tar collection method. This tar collection
method is one in which the tar component contained in the
gasification producer gas passes through the probe in the
heated state of 300e350
C and then undergoes a filtering
process. The first collection of tar is done to collect it in the
impinger bottle below 20
C; then, the tar was again collected
tion in the impinger bottle is filtered using a filter paper, the
tar stuck to the inside wall of the impinger bottle is dissolved
with isopropanol, and then the recovered solution is distilled
using the evaporator for the distillation of tar. The water tank
temperature of the evaporator is elevated slowly from 28
C to
a maximum of 50
C. Any substance remaining after distilla-
tion is defined as tar. As a result, tar generation volume by this
experiment was a level of 3.9e4.4 g Nm3 which is much lower
than the level of 10e30% in the case of the other fixed-bed
gasifier process. If tar can be eliminated in a reformer or
purification process, it might be possible to use this syngas
fully in a gas engine.
3.4. Power generation from syngas combustion in gas
engine
To generate power using the syngas generated in this experi-
mental apparatus as fuel fed into a gas engine, an experiment
with only LPG fuel was conducted, by means of a modification
of a fuel supply system, which the same dimensions and
operating conditions as those that use syngas in the CD800L
reciprocating engine, which is basically designed to use LPG
fuel. Also, the experiment was conducted by actually supplying
syngas generated in the downdraft gasifier into the gas engine
generator. The specifications of the gas engine and the gener-
ator used in this experiment are shown in Table 3. The relation
3000
2500
Combustion pressure (kPa)

2000

1500

1000
LPG
Syngas
500

0
0 1 2 3 4 5

Engine load (kW)

Fig. 7 e Effect of load on the combustion pressure inside

Fig. 6 e Tar collection method. cylinder.
 b i o m a s s a n d b i o e n e r g y 3 5 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 4 2 1 5 e4 2 2 0 4219

500 300 30000

HC
CO
250 25000
Exhaust gas temperature ( C)

450
o

200 20000

CO (ppm)
HC (ppm)
150 15000
400

100 10000

350 50 5000
LPG
Syngas
0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5

300 Engine load (kW)

0 1 2 3 4 5

Engine load (kW) Fig. 10 e Effect of load on the HC and CO emission in

exhaust gas.
Fig. 8 e Effect of load on exhaust gas temperature.

between the combustion pressure and the engine load at the
excess air ratio of 1.0w1.1(l) is shown in Fig. 7. The experiment
with only LPG fuel showed a higher combustion pressure than
was the case when syngas was supplied. In all cases, as the
load increased, the combustion pressure also showed a trend
of increase. The relation between the temperature of the
exhaust gas and the load for the excess air ratio of 1.0e1.1(l) is
shown in Fig. 8. In the experiment with only LPG fuel, the
exhaust gas discharged after the piston expansion was dis-
charged within the range of 360e400
C: in the case of using
syngas, this temperature range was 470e490
C. From these
results, it can be seen that the temperature of exhaust gas in
the case of using syngas is slightly higher. Such a temperature
of the exhaust gas indicates that the utilization of recovered
heat, such as that from the production of hot water and pre-
heating of combustion air by using exhaust gas, is also possible
in the case of small gas engines.
experiment with only LPG fuel, the NOx emission upon no
load was about 250 ppm, but as the load increased, it showed
a trend of increased NOx emission. In the case of using
syngas, the NOx emission decreased considerably, and
showed a level of about 30e40 ppm, although the load was
increased. It can be seen that the case for using syngas is
excellent also in the point of NOx discharge reduction. The
relationship of pollutants (such as HO and CO) emission from
syngas fuel with load change is shown in Fig. 10. As the load
increased, a trend of increased HC/CO concentration was
shown, and it can be seen that the CO emission in the dis-
charged gas was significantly higher compared with the HC
emission. It is thought that the CO component contained in
the produced gas was not completely combusted and that
some part of the CO component was discharged through the
exhaust valve as a non-combusted gas.

3.5. Exhaust pollutant emission from syngas

4. Conclusions
combustion
In this study, by using a downdraft gasifier to induce low
generation of tar, the characteristics of gasification and power
The effect of engine load on the NOx emission in exhaust gas
generation for woody biomass were investigated and the
at the excess air ratio of 1.0w1.1(l) is shown in Fig. 9. In the
following conclusions were obtained.
800
1. The operation was possible at a gasifier temperature of
LPG around 1000
C. When the air ratio for gasification was
Syngas
600 0.3e0.35, it is possible to obtain a low heating value of
1100e1200 kcal Nm3 and a cold gas efficiency of 69e72%.
2. Compared with the tar generation volume of around
NOx (ppm)

400
10e30% generated by the other type of fixed-bed gasifier,
the tar for the proposed downdraft gasifier applied in this
200 study was shown to be at a level of 3.9e4.4 g Nm3.
Therefore, this gasifier can enhance gasification conversion
performance.
0
3. As a result of having conducted a gas engine power
generation test using syngas at a low heating value of
0 1 2 3 4 5
1100e1200 kcal Nm3 in this study, it has been confirmed
that stable power generation can be done, and that an HC
Engine load (kW)
emission below 200 ppm, and a NOx emission below
Fig. 9 e Effect of load on the NOx emission in exhaust gas. 40 ppm, can be achieved.
4220 b i o m a s s a n d b i o e n e r g y 3 5 ( 2 0 1 1 ) 4 2 1 5 e4 2 2 0
Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the Research Coop-
erating Program for Agricultural Science & Technology
Development, Rural Development Administration (RDA) in
Korea
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