Assessment of a simplified equilibrium model for waste gasification

Abstract

The applicability is studied of a simplified equilibrium model for prediction of the composition and quality of producer gas from gasification of different waste. A simplified equilibrium model of stoichiometric type based on system thermodynamic equilibrium has been developed in the form of a stand-alone computer application. Standard numerical methods have been implemented for solving the mathematical problem formulation. The model`s predicted results have been compared with the published results for biomass and some waste types - municipal solid wastes and refuse derived fuels. Results are included for a bubbling fluidized bed and downdraft fixed bed allothermal gasification, also for catalytic supported gasification. Producer gas predictions by calibrated and non-calibrated versions of the simplified equilibrium model have been studied. The accuracy of these predictions has been evaluated. The results obtained by the simplified equilibrium model have confirmed that such model is a very useful tool for studying the gasification process for municipal solid wastes and refuse derived fuels process parameters for two mostly implemented gasifier types.