Design, realization of a fixed bed downdraft gasifier and conduction of preliminary gasification tests with balanites aegyptiaca hulls, rice husk and charcoal

This work is focused on the design and testing of a co-current fixed bed gasifier with two air injections. The electric power of the gasifier was set at 10 kW. The design is based on experimental data relating to specific gas production rate, engine power efficiencies, biomass flow rate, pyrolysis and reduction time etc. The gasification tests were conducted with rice husk, hulls of balanites aegyptiaca and charcoal. The realized gasifier has a diameter of the grid and a total height of 14 and 87 cm, respectively. A mass of 6.7, 17.9 and 10.8 kg were respectively gasified for rice husk, hulls of balanites aegyptiaca and charcoal. The highest temperatures (968°C in the oxidation zone) were obtained during charcoal gasification with a reaction time of 244 min. the temperature of 625°C in the oxidation zone and a reaction time of 114 min were obtained for the gasification of the hulls of balanites.   Key words: Gasification, design, rice husk, balanites aegyptiaca hulls, charcoal.