Hydrogen production from palm kernel shell via intergrated catalytic adsorption (ICA) steam gasification

Khan, Z., Yusup, S. and Ahmad, M. M. (2013) Hydrogen production from palm kernel shell via intergrated catalytic adsorption (ICA) steam gasification. In: 8th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Envoirnmental Systems (SDEWES), Dubrovnik, Croatia, 22-27 Sep 2013,

Abstract

Biomass provides sustainable and renewable way to produce hydrogen due to its low sulphur and nitrogen content (low NOx and SOx emissions) and considered as CO2 neutral in the environment. The present study investigates the integrated catalytic adsorption (ICA) steam gasification of palm kernel shell for hydrogen production in a pilot scale atmospheric fluidized bed gasifier. The effect of adsorbent to biomass ratio (0.5-1.5 wt/wt), fluidization velocity (0.15-0.26 m/s) and biomass particle size (0.355-2.0 mm) are studied at temperature of 675 °C, steam to biomass ratio of 2.0 (wt/wt) and biomass to catalyst ratio of 0.1 (wt/wt). Hydrogen composition and yield, total gas yield, and lower product gas heating values increased with increasing adsorbent to biomass ratio, while particle size has no significant effect on hydrogen composition and yield, total gas and char yield, gasification and carbon conversion efficiency. However, gas heating values is increased with increasing biomass particle size which is due to presence of high methane content in product gas. Meanwhile, medium fluidization velocity (0.21 m/s) favoured hydrogen composition and yield. The results showed that maximum hydrogen composition of 84.11 vol% and yield of 91.11 g H2/kg biomass are observed at adsorbent to biomass ratio of 1.5, steam to biomass ratio of 2.0, catalyst to biomass ratio of 0.1 and temperature of 675 °C. The ICA gasification system generated product gas with heating values of 10.92-17.02 MJ/Nm3 at given operating range. Gasification and carbon conversion efficiency are observed in the range of 25.66-42.95 % and 20.61-41.95 %, respectively. These lower efficiencies showed significant CO2 capturing using in-situ CO2 adsorption in pilot scale fluidized bed gasification system. The comparative study with literature showed that the combination of adsorbent and catalyst produce better results in terms of hydrogen composition and gas heating values compared to that of biomass steam catalytic gasification and steam gasification with in-situ CO2 adsorbent.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Khan, Dr Zakir
• Authors: Khan, Z., Yusup, S., and Ahmad, M. M.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy

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