Evaluating the impacts of temperature on a bubbling fluidized bed biomass gasification using CPFD simulation model

Biomass gasification and subsequently fuel and chemicals synthesis allow for a seamless transition from fossil raw materials to a renewable economy. A computational particle fluid dynamics (CPFD) simulation model is developed for biomass gasification in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor with steam as the fluidizing gas. CPFD methodology incorporates the multiphase particle-in-cell (MP-PIC) method and the particle parceling algorithm to solve the gas phase as a continuous fluid in a Eulerian grid of cells where particles are modeled as discrete Lagrangian points. The model has been validated by experimental results and shows good agreement. Reactor temperature effects as a key process operating parameters have been investigated and the results of the product gas composition on the temperature of 950, 1000, 1050, 1100, 1150, and 1200 K are shown. The results illustrate that at a higher temperature, the product of CO and H2 is promoted whereas the generation of CO2 and CH4 is diminished.