Solid recovered fuel gasification in sliding bed reactor

Abstract

This study examines a solid recovered fuel gasification process in the context of a regional, clean energy supply from an affordable source. The examination of this approach was performed under various equivalence ratios and load regimes. A unique cross/updraft gasification reactor with a fixed (sliding) bed over the circular grate with tangential gasification media intake was utilised. This technology is a perspective in waste-to-energy and waste-to-materials production. The investigated parameters included producer gas quality and purity, overall conversion efficiency and char material yield. It was found that a low material load is very beneficial in terms of gas purity and conversion efficiency, reaching up to 93%. Also, the formation of tar compounds was measured as low as 0.7 g/m3. However, when the equivalence ratio parameter was 0.14, the gas's lower heating value was only 2.4 MJ/m3. Also, a lower heating value equal to 5.0 MJ/m3 was reached in a low-efficiency regime (48%) when the fuel load was more significant (48.5 kg/h), and the equivalence ratio was only 0.04. The low tar content suggests a very clean process. Also, the material valorisation in the form of char is beneficial as this carbon-rich material no longer has a waste character and can be utilised in many fields.