Submitted to:- Submitted By:

Dr. Ghanshyam Singh Ayush Garg (8815105002)

Head Of Department Akshit Goyal (8815105030)
(Mechanical Engineering) Pulkit Shukla (8815105012)
 Project Plan
 Introduction
 Sizing of the Reactors
 CAD Modelling
 Fabrication
 Testing
 Problem Faced
 Conclusion
 Future Scope
 References
Aim of the Project:
In the hydrogen production through biomass gasification, the main focus is to design and
develop affordable system that use agriculture byproduct, such as wood chips and pelletized
grasses, as fuel to produce hydrogen.
 CAD modelling of all the components of gasifier along with the reactors of hydrogen
production unit has been done.
 Fabrication of both the reactors (Water gas shift reactor and Carbon dioxide cleanup reactor)
has been done. These reactors are the extension of a downdraft Biomass gasification system,
already available in the lab.
 In the experiments, the producer gas (Syngas) is supplied into the reactor from the bottom and
the mist is added from the top inside the reactor and in second reactor adsorption of CO2 takes
place using activated carbon (charcoal).
Biomass + Oxidizer → Carbon monoxide + Hydrogen + Carbon dioxide + Energy
Air fuel ratio of wood by weight = 6.5:1
1 kg of wood Complete Combustion[3].= 6.5 kg of air is required
5 kg of wood Complete Combustion = 6.5*5 = 32.5 kg of air
volume for 28.94 g of air[14].= 22.4 l
32.5∗1000
Air required for NTP 32 kg/h of air[12].= 22.400 ∗ = 25.155 m3/h
28.94
Equivalence Ratio for Gasification[12]. = 0.3
Volume of air = 0.3*25.155 = 7.54 m3/h
Volume of nitrogen in above mixture = 7.54*0.79 = 5.9566 m3/h
1 kg/h of wood produces = 2 m3 of producer gas
5 kg/h of wood produces 10 m3/h of producer gas
Steam to Biomass ratio[12]. = 2.2:1
Steam for 5 kg/h of Biomass = 11 m3/h
Total Volume = 5.9566 + 10 + 11 = 26.9566 m3/h
Residence Time[10]. = 2 sec
26.9566
Reactor 1 Volume = ∗ 2 = 0.01497 m3 = 14970 cm3
3600
Carbon monoxide + Water ↔ Carbon dioxide + Hydrogen
The optimized activated Carbon size 250µm at operating condition of 900 °C with 20 °C/min
heating rate and 45 min holding time under 150 ml CO2 flow which had utmost CO2 adsorption
capacity around 79 mg/g. Thus, the adsorption rate of commercial carbon is 81 mg/g[14].
Experimental Study:
45 min holding time = 150 ml CO2 flow
150
1 min holding time = ml CO2 flow
45
Thus, We have
1 min holding time = 3.33 ml/min CO2 flow
For 3.3 ml/min CO2 flow = 79 mg/g
79
1 ml/min CO2 flow =
3.33
79 149.75
149.75/2 ml/min CO2 flow = ∗ =1776.31mg/g
3.33 2
Gasification chamber Interior tubes Downdraft gasifier
Fuel holder Reactor 1 Reactor 2
Downdraft gasifier with WGSR unit Downdraft gasifier with WGSR and CO2 cleanup unit
Downdraft gasifier with WGSR and CO2 cleanup unit
Fabrication of Hydrogen Production Unit
This unit consists of two reactors, one for the production of carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the
other for the removal of carbon dioxide from the hydrogen.

Water Gas Shift Reactor & Carbon dioxide cleanup unit Outlet of Reactor 1 Inlet of Reactor 1
Water Gas Shift Reactor Unit
It consists of a reactor in which water gas shift reaction take place, a water supply system
is provided to create mist inside the reactor from the top and the inlet of the syngas is
supplied from the bottom.

Nozzle for Reactor 1 Water gas shift reactor unit

Carbon dioxide Clean-up Unit
This is used to separate the byproducts i.e., hydrogen and carbon dioxide, we need to use the
adsorption method, so that we can get pure form of hydrogen.

Carbon dioxide cleanup unit

ASSEMBLY

Assembly of gasifier with reactor 1 Assembly of gasifier with reactor 1 & 2

Testing of the gasifier has been done in three different phase:
 First phase: During testing with Burner
In order to check the quality and quantity of the syngas produced by gasifier, the burner is used before
the water gas shift reactor for the proper quality check of syngas. To test for the presence of hydrogen
we ignite the gas which will make a squeaky pop up sound because the hydrogen is highly flammable,
the gas reacts in contact with the flame, which proved the presence of hydrogen gas.
 Second phase: During Testing with Reactor 1
If the presence of hydrogen is found during testing with burner then further, the syngas is supplied to
reactor 1 for the water gas shift reaction. The product is hydrogen and carbon dioxide. In this phase it is
observed that the gas extinguishes the flame which proved the presence of carbon dioxide and a
discontinuous flame which proves the presence of hydrogen.
 Third Phase: During Testing with Reactor 1 & 2
After the WGSR took place the third phase comes into action in which carbon dioxide adsorption takes
place using activated charcoal in which the reactor is filled with activated charcoal and the product of
water gas shift reaction is passed through this reactor. In this phase it is observed that the carbon
dioxide content in this phase is low as there is increase in the temperature of the flame which is
invisible.
 At the beginning ignition of biomass was not proper so, restoration and tar removal of the
existing system of gasifier was done.
 Mass Flow rate of Syngas/Producer gas was increased using a pulley (which is attached to the
pump) of double the diameter of previous diameter used.
 Initially the gas at the outlet of reactor 1 was not combustible due to high concentration of
moisture present in it.
 Due to Leakages and some minor pressure losses we are unable to get the test results.
 The amount of gas coming out of the outlet is less due to loss in pressure in leakages.
 Due to colorless and odorless combustion of small amount of hydrogen it was difficult to
detect the hydrogen.
Till now the testing on wood chips, Rubber tyres and mixture of both wood chips and rubber tyre
has been done.
 During testing with wood chips, we found that the output gas was odorless and less tar is
produced. The flame was mostly invisible and bluish i.e., more quantity of hydrogen. The setup
works for 60 mins continuously with 5 kg of fuel.
 During testing with rubber tyres, we found the output gas was odorless and less tar is
produced. The flame was visible and reddish i.e., more quantity of Carbon monoxide was
present in output gas. The setup works for 60 mins continuously with 2 kg of fuel.
 During testing with both rubber tyres and wood chips, we found the gas was odorless and
less tar is produced the flame was reddish and after some time it was bluish i.e., carbon
monoxide and hydrogen both were present in output gas. The setup works for 70-80 mins
continuously with 0.5 kg of rubber tyre and 4.5 kg of wood chips.
Testing with Burner Testing with Reactor 1 Testing with Reactor 1 & 2
 Hydrogen is extremely attractive because of its environmental implications, and use of hydrogen
in fuel cells is efficient. Many options are being considered for hydrogen production. Production
through biomass gasification is the most attractive long-term, but has the most technical barriers
at the current time. Hydrogen storage is a critical issue that needs to be overcome for
implementation of hydrogen in transportation applications.
On performing various trials on the set up of gasifier, we have come to a conclusion that producer
gas obtained can be used to produce good quality of hydrogen by considering the following
factors:
 All leakages must be avoided.
 To avoid accumulation of tar inside the components of the system a proper filter should be used.
 The content of hydrogen in the producer gas increases with moisture content for all the materials
considered.
 The carbon monoxide content in the producer gas decreases with moisture content for all the
materials considered, almost in a linear variation.
 Hydrogen has been widely used in chemical industries to manufacture fertilizers, chemicals,
ammonia, saturated fatty acid etc. Its use in non-energy applications is expected to increase
further in coming years substantially.
 It is an energy carrier and not a primary source of energy. It is gaining importance as a
futuristic clean (pollution free) and sustainable (on the basis of its production from renewable
sources of energy) fuel for stationary power generation and transportation.
 Hydrogen may be produced from direct or indirect source of energy and hydrocarbon. The
fossilized carbonaceous feed stocks, like natural gas, naphtha or coal, etc., (source of
hydrocarbon and chemical energy) are being used for producing hydrogen through steam
reforming, plasma reforming, coal gasification, partial oxidation, and co-conversion using
steam.
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