The potential of high moisture biomass for energy production using plasma – Assisted gasification

Abstract

Gasification of biomass has been widely used for energy production. However, biomass feedstock must be low in moisture (< 20 % w.b.), inevitably requiring drying process which is both energy and time consuming. This paper shows the potential of high-moisture biomass gasifying using plasma arc as an external heat supply. It was found that high-moisture biomass can be used as feedstock in the plasma-assisted gasification process. The plasma arc maintained gasifier temperature high enough for reactions involved. The efficiency of the plasma-assisted gasification system operated with high-moisture biomass was more or less the same with that of conventional gasification operated with low-moisture biomass. When the drying energy was taken into account, the efficiency of the plasma gasification system is 15% higher than that of conventional gasification system. Overall, the plasma-assisted gasification system can be operated with high-moisture biomass efficiently and reduces the processes and energy for biomass preparation.