Designing of a 20 kW updraft fixed-bed biomass gasification power generation system

There has been a serious growing concern for the clean and sustainable energy supply systems which shall ultimately ensure the rapid pace of industrialization and other human developments. In a future world, the renewable energy technologies have the major role for catering both the concerns of energy security and a safer environment. Amongst various renewable energy sources biomass has high availability and it is also a carbon neutral source. Biomass gasification is a promising technology to convert a variety of biomass feedstocks into syngas. Syngas can either be used for power generation or as a thermal heat. The paper consists of a theoretical designing of a 20 kWe updraft fixed-bed biomass gasification power generation system. The important design and operational parameters such as amount of biomass feedstock selection, pretreatment requirements, required moisture content, gasifier furnace materials, gasifier diameter, gasifier height, inlet & outlet gas pipes size and location, and gasification agent flow rate has been calculated. The theoretical design calculations are highly valuable in the construction of an updraft biomass gasification power generation units. A gasifier of 0.8 m diameter and 1.6 m height with 50 kg/hr of biomass feedstock is designed which is capable of providing 20 kW of electrical energy.