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Modelling and simulation of a downdraft rice husk gasifier
R. Chowdhury,
P. Bhattacharya,
M. Chakravarty,
R. Chowdhury
Chemical Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032, India
Search for more papers by this authorP. Bhattacharya
Chemical Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032, India
Search for more papers by this authorM. Chakravarty
Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta 700032, India
Search for more papers by this authorR. Chowdhury,
P. Bhattacharya,
M. Chakravarty,
R. Chowdhury
Chemical Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032, India
Search for more papers by this authorP. Bhattacharya
Chemical Engineering Department, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700032, India
Search for more papers by this authorM. Chakravarty
Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, Calcutta 700032, India
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The behaviour of a downdraft rice husk gasifier of diameter 200 mm and a height 940 mm has been studied. The gasification rate was varied in the range 1.8–4.3 × 10−2 kg/m2s. The air velocity was varied in the range 0.032–0.099 m/s. The producer gas obtained from the gasifier has a calorific value in the range 3240–4382 kJ/m3. A set of theoretical kinetic equations on the assumption of nonequilibrium conditions has been developed and solved numerically. The simulated temperature profile and outlet gas composition have been compared with those obtained from experimental runs. The model developed from a mechanistic approach is found to explain the behaviour of the present system appreciably within the range of variables studied.
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