Experimental assessment and modeling of energy conversion effectiveness in a gasification power plant

National and international energy scenarios seem to be rediscovering a new confidence in gasification power plants as a valuable technology for biomass conversion. Their adaptability, in both direct power production and biofuels synthesis, has been manifested into the development of wide varieties of reactor models and sizes. An appropriate modeling of the system, supported by experimental analysis, is necessary to achieve the high level of efficiency of the gasifier and the proper effectiveness of the entire energy plant conversion. This work is aimed at studying a stratified downdraft gasifier coupled to two IC engines with the total nominal power of 250 kWel. The model of the system is based on mass and energy balance; the model outputs are compared here with those coming from the experimental campaign. All the major thermo-chemical parameters are monitored, these include: air and gas flow rate, biomass moisture content, consumption and ultimate analysis, reaction zones temperatures, tars and char production. In this paper, the model outputs have been compared with the data to evaluate the sensitivity of the model. Moreover, the difference between the theoretical data and the experimental data have been exanimate.