Using Concentrated Solar Energy in a Biomass Gasification to Produce Hydrogen

Biomass gasification is an endothermic process which can be used to produce hydrogen (H-2). This study presents a simulation model using ASPEN Plus (R) to design biomass gasification process with water gas shift reaction (WGSR) to obtain maximum H-2. This was done by optimizing the process conditions via. modeling to understand the fundamental of the gasification process. Gibbs free minimization and thermodynamics equilibrium approach was used to find out best operating conditions for H-2 production. After conditioning of syngas, WGSR at 200 degrees C was introduced to produce H-2 as an alternative fuel. Both steam and CO2 as gasification agents were investigated. The effect of temperature and flowrate of steam and CO2 were optimized in such a way so that no solid carbon produced in the syngas. Higher temperature is favorable while temperature higher than 800 degrees C has an adverse effect on H-2 yield. The aim of present study is to determine H-2 production per kg of biomass feed and H-2 productivity per MWth solar-thermal energy input to the gasification system.