Modelling, Simulation And Optimization Of A Solid Residues Downdraft Gasifier: Application To The Co-Gasification Of Municipal Solid Waste And Sugarcane Bagasse

This work modelled a downdraft gasifier with air in the co-gasification of municipal solid waste (MSW) and sugarcane bagasse using a kinetic, one-dimensional and steady state approach. A central composite design was carried out to assess the impact of the co-gasification ratio (CGR), defined as the MSW mass fraction in the feeding biomass, the biomass moisture content and the equivalence ratio. As a result, polynomial models were obtained for syngas composition, lower heating value (LHV), energy efficiency and sum of CO and H-2 molar fractions on wet basis. The models were considered robust since the coefficient of determination R-2 ranged from 0.96082 to 0.99345. The impact of each chosen factor was investigated to maximize the energy efficiency and the sum of CO and H-2 molar fractions. The optimal case, with CGR 50%, a biomass moisture of 5.0% and an equivalence ratio of 0.18, resulted in a syngas molar fraction of 3.63, 30.51, 7.53, 19.76 and 0.77% for H2O, CO, CO2, H-2 and CH4, respectively, corresponding to a LHV of 6.74 MJ/Nm(3) and an energy efficiency of 39.93%. By the end, the process showed great potential to produce a syngas rich in CO and H-2. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.