Kinetic modeling of reduction zone in biomass gasification

Highlights: • A suitable kinetic model for reduction zone of biomass gasification. • Simulation of the model under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. • Optimization of the parameters on the basis of maximum yield of synthesis gas. • Optimum temperature and heating rate are found to be the same for five biomasses. - Abstract: Gasification of biomass is becoming common technology now a days; it is convenient to apply numerical simulation to the process to save time and energy as compared to the lengthy experimentation. Syngas produced as a result of gasification has many applications. Keeping in view those applications the objective of this work is to maximize the yield of syngas, using five different biomass like bagasse, wood sawdust, douglas fir bark, peanut hull and rice husk. The maximum yield of syngas is calculated using rate equations under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. For isothermal conditions, the kinetic model is simulated over the temperature range of 1000–1300 K by taking a step size 50 K to estimate optimum temperature. For non-isothermal conditions, the kinetic equations are solved for heating rate range of 25–75 K/s by taking a step size 10 K/s to assess optimum value of heating rate