Investigating Cynara C. biomass gasification producer gas suitability for CHP, second generation biofuels, and H2 production

• Fixed bed air gasification converts Cynara C. to medium calorific-value gas.
• Cynara C. is not recommended for CHP generation via gasification.
• The gas has a H2 high content, thus Cynara C. could be used for H2 production.

In the present study, the potential of Cynara C. utilisation for CHP, H2 and syngas production as a precursor for second generation biofuels with respect to CO2 mitigation by means of air gasification was investigated. Gasification was conducted at a temperature range of 700–900 °C at atmospheric pressure, with a main parametric study concerning the effects of temperature and various values of λ (0.2, 0.3, and 0.4) on gasification product distribution. The experimental results of Cynara C. gasification showed that the yield (v/v%) of syngas is optimised at a higher temperature and lower λ, while for H2, the maximum yield in v/v% was obtained at a lower temperature. Syngas (H2 + CO) reached 72.9 v/v% with a LHV of 9.84 MJ/Nm3 (based on N2 free gas) at a temperature of 900 °C and λ = 0.2. H2 achieved a syngas yield of 22 v/v% at 700 °C and λ = 0.2. According to the results, producer gas is recommended for H2 production rather than for CHP.

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