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Gasification can be defined as the thermochemical conversion of biomass into a fuel gas. The industrial process involves two key sets of thermochemical reactions carried over at high temperature and with a controlled amount of oxygen: pyrolysis and gasification.

Chemistry
During pyrogasification, biomass long-chain chemical bonds are broken down into simpler molecules. As a result, the generic molecule of solid biomass is converted into three co-products:


Gas
the gaseous fraction (syngas) composed of lighter, non-condensable molecules. It consists mainly of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, carbon dioxide and nitrogen
Liquid
the condensable vapors produced by the sudden depolymerization of cellulosic components (cellulose and hemicellulose). Once condensed, the mix of these hydrocarbon complexes with high heating value is generically referred to as tar or pyrolysis oil
Solid
the part of unreacted charcoal (char), consists of carbon plus the ash initially contained in the biomass

The relative amounts of these three co-products depend on multiple factors, including the Heating Rate (speed at which the biomass is heated), the Equivalence Ratio (amount of oxygen used in the process), the process temperature and others. In our reactor these parameters are optimized for the production of syngas. Thanks to the high efficiency of the process, over 90% of the energy content of the biomass is converted into pyrogasification co-products.

 
Reactor design and main process phases
Bio&Watt gasification reactor (proprietary design) can be defined as “stratified – downdraft – twin fire” fixed bed gasifier. Referring to the scheme, the main steps of the process inside the reactor are:

A. Pyrolysis (200ºC < T < 600ºC)
the volatile components of biomass (cellulose, hemicellulose) vaporize generating the so-called pyrolysis gas, rich in hydrocarbons, whilst non-volatile components (lignin) remain in the solid phase forming charcoal
B. Oxidation (T 800 ÷ 1.000ºC)
part of the biomass is oxidized under non-stoichiometric conditions, producing the heat necessary for the gasification reactions. The pyrolysis gas passes through the high temperature combustion zone where it undergoes a thermal cracking: complex hydrocarbons are decomposed into elementary molecules like CH4
C. Reduction (T lowers to 600÷700ºC)
the charcoal then reacts with the combustion gases absorbing heat and producing CO and H2


         
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