Production of clean synthetic gas from palm shell in a fixed bed gasifier with recycle system of producer gas

Tar as side product of biomass gasification could potentially degrade internal combustion engine performance if syngas is used for the fuel. Tar reduction may be achievable with recycling of outlet producer gas back into the gasifier. This research studied the effects of recycle system to tar content in syngas as product of palm shell gasification in a fixed bed gasifier. The effects of recycling system were examined using gasification of palm shell with primary air at 3.30 Nm3/h, mixture of primary air at 1.80 Nm3/h and secondary air at 1.50 Nm3/h, and mixture of primary air and recycled gas. Volumetric rate of recycle gas were varied at 0.90 and 1.20 Nm3/h respectively. Gasification performance evaluation was based on Specific Gasification Rate. Syngas quality was rated with tar content, CO, CH4, H2, CO2, and N2 composition. The highest Specific Gasification Rate of 111.71 kg/m2h and tar reduction up to 61.95% were achieved using recycle system at volumetric rate of 0.90 Nm3/h with temperature of operation is 750°C. The highest heating value of 6.34 MJ/Nm3 was attained using recycled gas volumetric rate at 1.20 Nm3/h.