BIOMASS GASIFIER COUPLED TO A GAS COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND IT S POTENTIAL FOR THERMAL CONDITIONING OF POLTRY HOUSE AND GRAIN DRYING.

Transcription

1 BIOMASS GASIFIER COUPLED TO A GAS COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND IT S POTENTIAL FOR THERMAL CONDITIONING OF POLTRY HOUSE AND GRAIN DRYING. Jadir Nogueira da Silva, Research Station Agricultural Eng. Department-Federal University of Viçosa-MG, Brazil. Fabio Luiz Zanata; Federal University of Piauí- PI, Brazil Volkard Scholz, ATB- Agrartechnik Bornin, Potsdam-DE Svetlana F. S. Galvarro, Graduate Student, Federal University of Viçosa-MG, Brazil. Abstract In order to develop alternatives for heating air, which can be used for the thermal conditioning of poultry houses, drying of agricultural products, etc. a biomass gasifier, coupled to a combustion chamber, was designed, built and tested at the Agricultural Engineering Department Energy Area. The automated updraft biomass gasifier was feed with eucalyptus firewood of different sizes (measuring 15, 50 and 100 cm in length, and eucalyptus firewood chips). Factor studied was temperature profile inside the gasifier, synthesis gas composition, CO concentration in the hot air from the fan outlet, air factor and overall system efficiency. According to the results, the best average of HHV (higher heating value) measured in the synthesis gas (5.66 MJ / m³) was observed when using eucalyptus logs measuring 15 cm in length. The eucalyptus firewood chips provided the lowest average concentration of CO in the warm air outlet (197.7 ppm) and the best overall system efficiency (95.4%). Results indicates that the gasifier was capable of generating synthesis gas using firewood with different dimensions that, burned in a close coupled combustion chamber, efficiently generates clean warm air that can be used for agricultural purposes, such as space heating for broilers or grain drying. Keywords: Biomass energy; Biomass gasifier; wood energy; air heating 1 Introduction In order to develop alternatives for heating air, which can be used for the thermal conditioning of poultry houses, drying of agricultural products and dehydration of fruits, the biomass gasification and anaerobic digestion of poultry litter, chicken manure, wheat straw and rye silage were studied. The conversion of the biomass chemical energy into other energy forms may be processed in several ways. Among them, gasification uses reactors to convert biomass into combustible gas. For dimensioning the gasifier and its parts, several factors should be taken into account, from fuel characteristics to the real needs of the released thermal energy. In addition to these concerns, the energy efficiency of processes must be considered, because more energy efficient systems generate less pollution and less costs. Energy efficiency can be understood as reducing costs and eliminating waste without loss of quality products and services. t is important to the rational use of energy, to be established through the introduction of new technologies and changes in consumer habits. In this context, the gasification of biomass has become an attractive alternative because, among the power conversion techniques using biomass gasification offers many advantages due to conversion Proceedings International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, Zurich, /5

2 of same into a combustible gas, which makes the process more efficient compared to the other when the goal is to generate free hot air impurities, required in various operations of agribusiness activities. 2 Materials and methods Developed a countercurrent flow gasifier (Figure 1) as mentioned in Zanatta (2011). For the design of the reactor, previous studies were needed on the oxidation zone and fuel to be used in the gasification process. Moreover, it was necessary to calculate the energy wasted to heat an aviary with dimensions of 100 m x 12 m x 2.7 m, capable of holding around 15,000 birds. The methodology used was the mentioned in Zanatta (2011). 3 Results and Discussions In order to evaluate the performance of the gasifier to generate warm and clean air, variables such as the temperature at different points of the system were analyzed, the composition of the gas generated and quality of hot air from the combustion gases generated by the gasifier. Figure 2 illustrates the variation of the temperatures within the gasification reactor in one of the tests. The abbreviations that appear in the graphs mean: TAmb. (Ambient air temperature), TComb. (Temperature in the combustion zone) TRed. (Temperature in the reduction zone), TPir. (Temperature in the pyrolysis zone), TSec. (Temperature in the drying zone) TGases (synthesis gas temperature) TCC (temperature difference between the flame and the combustion chamber wall), Tex. (Temperature of the hot air exhaust fan). The test carried out with wood 15 cm (Figure 3) showed an excellent development of the temperature inside the gasifier. The air temperature at the fan output has always been 100 C, ideal for processes of heating or drying, because in these cases heat losses occur until the final use, requiring that the outlet temperature of the combustor is somewhat higher than the use temperature of the hot air. As early in the process the water concentration is increased, it is believed that there was a larger formation of CO 2 due to the presence of water during this period of time. In test 3 (Figure 4) there was a tendency of concentration of CO exceed the concentration of the other gases examined during gasification, mainly after 4 hours of operation of the gasifier. It was observed that there was a trend to be higher overall efficiency tests more frequently fan (higher fan speed) to the same type of solid fuel (Table 1). Other results of the evaluated parameters can be found in Zanatta (2011). 4 Conclusions According to the results, the best average of HHV (higher heating value) measured in the synthesis gas (5.66 MJ / m³) was observed when using eucalyptus logs measuring 15 cm in length. The eucalyptus firewood chips had the lowest average concentration of CO in the warm air fan outlet (197.7 ppm) and the best overall system efficiency (95.4%). The gasifier was capable of generating synthesis gas using firewood with different studied dimensions. The automatic system worked perfectly, are able to furnish warm air for grain drying and/or space heating for broiler houses. 5 Acknowledgements Federal University of Viçosa UFV Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico CNPq Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais FAPEMIG Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES Proceedings International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, Zurich, /5

3 6 References BREWER, R. N. e DUNN, J. R. Potential for conversion and utilization of solar energy in poultry production. Nat. Sci. Found. Rep /PR/74/ DAGNALL, S.; HILL, J.; PEGG, D. Resource mapping and analysis of farm livestock manures - assessing the opportunities for biomass-to-energy schemes.bioresource Technology V.71, p DEUBLEIN, D. e STEINHAUSER A. Biogas from Waste and Renewable Resources.An Introduction WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, ISBN GERARDI, M. H. The microbiology of anaerobic digesters.2003, John Wiley & Sons.USA, 177p ISBN JAMILA, A. Optimisation of factors allowing best gas yield from anaerobic fermentation of poultry manure: energy and the environment, into the 90s. In: WORLD RENEWABLE EN- ERGY CONGRESS, 1, 1990, Reading. Proceedings... p REECE, F. N. Use of solar energy in poultry production. Poultry Science. v.60. p SUMMERS, A. J. El calentamiento de piso reduceloscostos de cria. Indústria avícola, v.23, n.7, 1985, p SAVERY, C. W.; CRUZAN, D. C. Methane recovery from chicken manure digestion. Journal Water Pollution Control Federation, v.44, n.12, p , PAYNE, V. W. E; DONALD, J. O. Poultry waste management and environmental protection manual. Alabama: Auburn University, Cooperative Extensive Service, p. VDI 4630, Fermentation of organic materials. Characterization of the substrate, sampling, collection of material data, fermentation tests.vereindeutscheringenieure. April ZANATTA, Fábio Luiz, D.Sc.Development and evaluation of a biomass gasifier and investigation of biogas production potential with agricultural and poultry wastes. Universidade Federal de Viçosa, May of WIMBERLY, J. Commercialization of Biomass Direct-fired Heating Systems.Final Report.Foundation for Organic Resources Management.75p Disponívelem: < Acessoem 19/01/2009. Proceedings International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, Zurich, /5

4 Figure 1: Biomass Gasifier Figure 2 - Variation of the temperature inside the gasifier for the various zones of the reactor to wood length of from 15 cm at a frequency of 60 Hz. A average mass flow of combustion air in the gasifier was of kg / s. Figure 3: Wood size fractionated on a 15 cm. Proceedings International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, Zurich, /5

5 Figure 4 - Gas composition observed for Test 3 during the experiment, with wood size of 15 cm in length at a frequency of 60 Hz, with mass flow rate of combustion air in the gasifier was of Table 1 - Overall average efficiency and average air factor for all tests Teste Size of firewood (cm) Ventilator frequency (Hz) Average mass flow of primary air in the gasifier (kg/s) Thermal Efficiency Overall Efficiency Air Factor , ,98 64,12 0, , ,14 79,27 0, , ,79 93,62 0, , ,43 91,22 0, , ,09 80,51 0, , , , , ,47 81,02 0, , ,18 92,23 0, , ,39 94,58 0, Chips 60 0, ,75 95,40 0,5560 Proceedings International Conference of Agricultural Engineering, Zurich, /5