Hydrogen-rich gas from gasification of Portuguese municipal solid wastes

•H2 rich gas generation by using MSW gasification.•A previously CFD developed numerical model for MSW gasification was used.•Results were validated against data from the literature.•H2 generated at different operating conditions in pilot scale were simulated.•H2 from the gasification of MSW and biomass substrates were compared.

Gasification has been identified as a promising method of municipal solid waste (MSW) conversion to energy due to its pollution minimization effects and high overall efficiency. Recent studies have been carried out to produce hydrogen through MSW gasification with promising results. Despite this, it is still necessary to develop mathematical models able to assist the advance of this technology and to make way for large-scale commercialization.A previously developed and validated numerical model was used to predict and analyze the viability of hydrogen-rich gas generation from MSW gasification in a semi-industrial fluidized bed gasifier. Influence of equivalence ratio, carbon-dioxide-to-MSW ratio, steam-to-MSW ratio, reactor temperature and catalyst used was investigated. The content of hydrogen in the generated gas increased up to 40% with the presence of NiO/MD catalysts, while reducing the tar content and increasing the gas yield. Finally, to assess the capabilities of the Portuguese wastes results were compared with previously studied Portuguese biomass substrates.