Simulation of hybrid biomass gasification using Aspen plus: A comparative performance analysis for food, municipal solid and poultry waste

Steady state simulation model for gasification has been developed using Aspen Plus. The model can be used as a predictive tool for optimization of the gasifier performance.The Gasifier has been modeled in three stages. In first stage moisture content of biomass feed is reduced. In second stage biomass is decomposed into its elements by specifying yield distribution. In third stage gasification reactions have been modeled using Gibbs free energy minimization approach. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results obtained through hybrid biomass gasifier. In the simulation study, the operating parameters like Temperature, Equivalence Ratio (ER), Biomass Moisture Content and Steam Injection have been varied over wide range and the effect of these parameters on syngas composition, High Heating Value (HHV) and Cold Gas Efficiency (CGE) has been investigated. Temperature increases the production of CO and H2. Increasing ER decreases the production of CO and H2 which decreases the CGE. Biomass moisture content is an important parameter affecting the heating value of the gas. Steam injection favors hydrogen production. The performance of the simulated gasifier has been compared using experimental data for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Food Waste (FW) and Poultry Waste (PW).

► Simulation model for gasifier is developed and validated against experimental Data.
► The effect of operational parameters has been investigated for three feedstocks.
► Municipal solid waste and poultry waste have low CGE and HHV then food waste.
► Steam injection favors H2 production, The steam to biomass ratio used is 0.15–0.3.