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Analysis of solar‐driven gasification of biochar trickling through an interconnected porous structure
Author(s) -
Kruesi Michael,
Jovanovic Zoran R.,
Haselbacher Andreas,
Steinfeld Aldo
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
aiche journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.958
H-Index - 167
eISSN - 1547-5905
pISSN - 0001-1541
DOI - 10.1002/aic.14672
Subject(s) - char , porosity , heat transfer , materials science , thermal conduction , thermal conductivity , trickle bed reactor , particle (ecology) , packed bed , solar furnace , biochar , porous medium , chemical engineering , composite material , thermodynamics , chemistry , solar energy , pyrolysis , ecology , biochemistry , physics , oceanography , biology , engineering , geology , catalysis
The efficient transfer of high‐temperature solar heat to the reaction site is crucial for the yield and selectivity of the solar‐driven gasification of biomass. The performance of a gas‐solid trickle‐bed reactor constructed from a high thermal conductivity porous ceramic packing has been investigated. Beech char particles were used as the model feedstock. A two‐dimensional finite‐volume model coupling chemical reaction with conduction, convection, and radiation of heat within the packing was developed and tested against measured temperatures and gasification rates. The sensitivity of the gasification rate and reactor temperatures to variations of the packing's pore diameter, porosity, thermal conductivity, and particle loading was numerically studied. A numerical comparison with a moving bed projected a more uniform temperature distribution and higher gasification rates due to the increased heat transfer via combined radiation and conduction through the trickle bed. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J , 61: 867–879, 2015