Moving bed syngas conditioning: Modelling

•A 2D, 2 phase, adiabatic, steady-state model for simulating tars and dust removal is proposed.•The MBHEF has been proven as feasible for syngas conditioning in end-use syngas applications.•Tars removal efficiencies of 88–94% can be achieved in compact size equipment.•Low gas velocities (0.5–1 m/s) and high particle size (400–700 μm) are the most suitable operating conditions.

This paper presents a modelling approach for simulating tars and particulate (dust) removal in a moving bed heat exchange filter (MBHEF) in order to satisfy gas requirements of end-use syngas applications: engines and turbines. The two-dimension, adiabatic, steady-state proposed model accounts for two-phase (gas and solid) and neglects conduction and mass diffusion. Tars condensation is modelled through representative tar class lumps: phenol (class 2), naphthalene (class 4), pyrene (class 5). The model also considers tar concentration influence on the tar dew point. The filtration model is taken from literature. A sensitivity analysis is performed varying the particle size and the superficial gas velocity. Maps of temperature and tars abatement efficiency are presented. The simulation results indicate the feasibility of the use a MBHEF as tars removal equipment benefiting its advantages against others gas-cleaning methods with acceptable pollutant removal efficiencies, ranging 88–94% for ranges studied. Results also point out low gas velocities (0.5-1 m/s) and high particle size (400–700 μm) for reducing operational costs in MBHEFs with compact size.