ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM BIOMASS GASIFICATION

Abstract

Brazil is among the ten largest consumers of electricity in the world, and in the last decades its demand for electricity has been continuously increasing. As a consequence it has not been capable to ensure enough expansion of its electric power network, mostly affecting isolated communities. The present study discusses the use of a system formed by an Indian residue biomass gasifier and a 36 kVA engine-generator, which should generate 20 kWe, using gas-alone mode engine. The engine was, originally, a MWM D229-4 diesel engine, which was converted into an Otto cycle to run only with producer gas. The system performance was evaluated for different engine’s advance ignition angles, and two types of biomass. As the Indian gasifier was designed to operate just with dual-fuel mode to feed a gas-alone engine, some changes in the gasifier's water cleaning system were required. The modifications enabled the system to improve the power generation which overcame the 20 kWe reaching 26 kWe. Technical and economic considerations showed that the bioelectricity based on bio-residual gasifier may be a viable and ecological option for regions having enough biomass residue and not served by the system network.