Design of Gasification Tools Updraft System of Biomass-Fueled

Double Gas Outlet (Coconut Shell) with The Influence of Air

Flowrate Combustion to Syngas Product
Fatma Cahyani, Felicia Samantha, Wahyu Triaji Rahadianto
State Polytechnic Of Sriwijaya, Indonesia

fatmacahyani5@gmail.com
Abstract
Coconut shell is one of biomass waste which able to prduce energy potentially. One of a potential
technology is to exploit coconut shell is gasification technology. Gasification is a solidnfuel
conversion process becomes syngas (CO, CH4, H2) throught burning process by limited air supplied
about 20% until 40% stoichiometri air. In this research, it will be done coconut shell gasification
process by gasification tool that uses updraft duble gas outlet system through air flowrate 70,1 lpm,
90,4 lpm, and 122,4 lpm to produce syngas. The result of the research showed that the higher
compotition gas of syngas was CO, about 22,57%, 22,90%, and 23,77%, than H2 and CH4 which
was about 11,41%, 11,91%, 12,25%;1,28%, 1,59%, and 1,93%, also by adding the air flowrate 70,1
lpm, 90,4 lpm, and 122,4 lpm woud integrate the efficiency of gasification was about 29,23%,
37,67%, 50,91% and the percentage of gas conversion was about 44,98%, 56,25%, and 76,18%.
Keywords : Gasification, coconut shell, updraft double gas, air flowrate, percentage of gas
conversion.
INTRODUCTION overcoming the problem of coconut shell
waste, the use of coconut shell into eenergi
Indonesia is a country that has abundant also useful to raise the economic value of the
natural wealth will be the diversity of flora coconut shell. Coconut shells are part of the
and fauna. The natural wealth has the coconut fruit whose function is biologically
potential to be processed into a renewable protective of the fruit core and located on the
energy source that can support the inside of the coir with a thickness ranging
government's move to diversify energy. One from 3-6 mm (Anonymous, 2013). According
source of renewable energy is biomass. to the Directorate General of Plantation of
Biomass is all organic material contained in Indonesia, South Sumatera Province produces
the existing vegetation on land and at sea coconut of 1239 kg / ha in 2012, from which
(Irvan Nurtian, 2007). coconut production produces coconut shell
One source of biomass that can be used as an waste which can be used as energy source.
energy source is coconut shell. Coconut shell One potential technology for the utilization of
is one of the biomass that has the potential to coconut shells into energy sources is
produce energy. Due to the large number of gasification technology. Gasification is the
coconut shell products and only become process of converting solid fuels into
agricultural waste. Utilization is also combustible gas (CO, CH4, H2) through a
currently only limited to use for direct combustion process with limited air supply
combustion and used as charcoal, hence from that is between 20% to 40% stoichiometric
that need other steps to utilize coconut shell air (Vidian, 2008). This process takes place
as source of energy. In addition to within an apparatus called a gasifier, in which
the biomass fuel is introduced, in which case
the coconut shell undergoing oxidation
reaction with air, oxygen, moisture or mixture
to produce a combustible gas. One type of
gasifier yaing often used is the type of updraft
gasifier.
Several studies of gasification of biomass
using updraft gasifier have been done.
Research on gasification of updraft gasifier
type using coconut shell fuels with variation
of combustion airflow rate, the result of its
research shows with the air flow rate of
burning 70,1 lpm, 91,4 lpm and 122,4 lpm
have efficiency 40% each, 53% and 55%
(Fajri Vidian, 2008). The study still has a
deficiency, which has a high enough tar
content and efficiency is still low. Another
research is the gasification characteristic of
updraft of double gas outlet gasifier using
rubber wood fuel, the result of its research
shows that cold gas efficiency for system
with two output areas has higher value
compared to conventional system that is
53,087% to 46,519% (Guswendar
Rinovianto, 2012) . The study also still has a
deficiency that is the composition of the fuel
is still low and the calorific value produced is
not too high due to the C content and the
value of heat of rubber wood that is not too
high.
So that will be done gasification research
with updraft of double gas outlet gasifier with
variation of air flow rate of combustion using
coconut shell fuel to get gas capable of burn
which have composition of CO, CH4, H2 and
high caloric value of syngas, and the tar
content is little and efficiency is generated
higher. So that later can be produced
gasification reactor using biomass fuel which
is expected to be useful to overcome energy
needs.
The hypothesis that can be made is that the
increased oxygen discharge is given, the
amount of flammable syngas composition
will increase. The higher the flammable
syngas composition of the LHV heat value
will also be higher, but if the excessive
discharge of the composition of flammable
syngas will be lost because in the gasifier will
occur ordinary combustionthat produces flue
gas.
EXPERIMENTAL METHODS
• Materials
This gasification tool is made of stainless
material with a thickness of 8 mm. The
selection of this material is based on the
consideration that the temperature occurring
in the combustion chamber is more than
1000oC. Stainless Steel has melting point up
to 1400oC, stable and non reactive. This
gasification tool is a cylindrical tube with a
diameter of 22 sm and height 55 cm and the
ash shelter is also 22 cm in diameter with a
height of 15 cm. This gasification tool is
connected to scrubber and separator using
stainless steel pipe measuring 1.5 inch and to
connect water from water reservoir with
pump to wet scrubber used ¼ inch PVC pipe.
• Methods
Biomass (coconut shell) is done by
preparation process by sizing process to
minimize coconut shell size and drying at
environmental temperature ± 32OC to reduce
moisture content., then weighing process to
find out how the shoot will be use as biomass
fuel in tool gasification updraft system double
gas outlet. In this gasification tool consists of
several parts that are assembled into
gasification system updraft double gas outlet
with the addition of gas cleaning system there
are wet scrubber and separator. The coconut
shell will enter the gasification reactor section
along with the air supplied blower for fuel
burning needs so that in the reactor there will
be drying process, devolatilisation,
combustion, and gasification that change the
phase of coconut shell from solid into wet
syngas and ash as a refuse. Then syngas will
experience the process inside the venturi
scrubber with water pumped from cleaning
tank and measured the flowrate by
Rotameter. So from that, it is obtained dry
syngas as a product.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION
This research was conducted using coconut
shell as much as 3.5 kg for one batch and 0.5
kg for starting up using variation of
combustion air flow rate that is 70,1 lpm,
90,4 lpm and 122,4 lpm. Flow rate is
obtained based on previous research that has
the increase of syngas flow rate is not optimal
due to gas leaks in the syngas pipes as well as
on the reactor cover and the ash shelter, so
that many syngas are leaked out.
• The Influence of Air Combustion Flowrate
and Syngas Composition
25

SYNGAS COMPOSITION (%)

20
been done Fajri Vidian, 2008, where this
15 CO
research is a follow-up research from the
research by using double gas outlet. Research 10 H2
on coconut shell biomass gasification using 5 CH4
updraft double gas outlet gasification tool, to
0
know the effect of combustion air flow rate 0 50 100 150
on syngas flow rate, equivalent ratio, gas AIR COMBUSTION FLOWRATE (LPM)
composition, LHV syngas, gasification
efficiency and percent (%) gas conversion. Figure 4. Air Combustion Flowrate vs Syngas
Composition
• Influence of Air Flow Rate Variation on
Syngas Flow Rate LHV OF SYNGAS (MJ/m3) 4.7
4.6
160 4.5
SYNGAS FLOWRATE (LPM)

4.4
120
4.3
80 4.2
4.1
40 0 40 80 120 160
AIR COMBUSTION FLOWRATE (LPM)
0
0 40 80 120 160
AIR COMBUSTION FLOWRATE(LPM)

Figure 3. Air Combustion Flowrate vs Syngas

Flowrate
Based on the results of research in Figure 3
can be seen that the greater the rate of air
flow, the resulting flow rate of syngas will be
even greater. The greater the rate of syngas
produced due to the greater the rate of air
flow, the supply of oxygen for combustion in
the area of oxidation will also increase so that
more and more carbon dioxide and CO2
formed (Fajri Vidian, 2008). So as more CO2
is formed and the more H2O is evaporated
from the fuel, the more CO2 and H2 gases are
formed. As a result of the amount of CO2 and
H2 gas that is formed, the more carbon and
hydrogen reacts to form methane gas (CH4).
Although the syngas flow rate increases with
the increase of the combustion air flow rate,
Figure 5. Graph of Correlation Between Air
Combustion Flowrate and LHV of Syngas
In Figure 4 can be seen increasing the rate of
air flow of combustion then the composition
of gas capable of fuel will also increase. This
is because the air supply provided is still
below the stoichiometric air boundary so with
the addition of the air flow rate the
composition of ga smampu burn will also
increase. Since the amount of air flow rate
supplied to the gasificais process is still
below the stoichiometrial air boundary so that
with the increase of the combustion air flow
rate the amount of oxygen supply to the
reactor will also increase. The large amount
of oxygen supplied to the reactor will react
with a combustible substance (C) so that it
will produce CO2 ¬ and H2O. Furthermore,
the gas formed will react again with carbon
so that will be produced ga smampu burn of
CO, H2, and CH4.
As for the value of caloric syngas (LHV) also
increases with the increase of air flow rate.
This is because with the increase of
combustion air rate, the composition of gas
capable of fuel will also increase because the
air supply is still below the stoichiometric air
boundary so that the increased composition of
gas capable of fuel will also increase the
volume fraction of the fuel gas so that the
heating value (LHV) of the gas is capable the
resulting fuel will increase.
• Effect of Air Flow Rate on Gasification
Efficiency
90
EFFICIENCY (%)
75
60
45
30
15
0 with the increasing amount of combustion air
0 40 80 120
AIR COMBUSTION FLOWRATE (LPM)
Figure 6. Graph of Correlation Between Air
Combustion Flowrate and Efficiency
In Figure 6 can be seen the efficiency tends to
increase with the increase of combustion air
flow rate, due to the increase of combustion
air flow rate will increase the flow rate of
gasified gas syngas and LHV gasification
gas, so that automatic gasification efficiency
will increase. The efficiency obtained in FIG.
6 is not a maximum efficiency because the
gasification efficiency will continue to
increase as the combustion air flow rate
increases to maximum efficiency, since the
air flow rate in this experiment is still below
the stoichiometric air limits. In addition, this
efficiency is not maximized due to the
leakage of gasification equipment, especially
in the gasification closing section, in the ash
shelter and on the pipe connection where the
syngas flow is causing the reduction of the
efficiency of the gasification tool.
• Influence of Air Flow Rate Against Percent
(%) Gas Conversion
90
PERCENT OF CONVERSION
75
60
(%)
45
30
15
0
0 40 80 120 160
AIR COMBUSTION FLOWRATE (LPM)
Figure 7. Graph of Correlation Between Air
Combustion Flowrate and Percent of Conversion
In the research that has been done, it can be
seen that with the increasing rate of
combustion air flow, the percentage of gas
conversion will also increase. This is because
160 flow rate the amount of oxygen supply to the
reactor will increase so that more carbon
reacts with oxygen and burns to CO2 gas.
Because a lot of carbon burns the temperature
inside the reactor will increase so that the
water vapor in the fuel will be evaporated
into H2O.
The amount of CO2 gas in the reactor then
the carbon contained in the fuel will react
with CO2 to form CO gas, otherwise carbon
will also react H2O to form CO and H2 gas.
Furthermore, with more gas H2, the carbon
will also react with H2 to form CH4 gas. The
reaction of the formation of a gas capable of
combustion (CO, H2, and CH4) occurs in the
area of reduction which is where the gas can
form. So with more carbon reacting and
emerging gas capable of fuel will increase the
percentage of gas conversion.
CONCLUSION
In a study conducted this time with the
addition of air flow rate of 70.1 lpm, 90.4
lpm, and 122.4 lpm will increase the syngas
flow rate, syngas composition, heating value
(LHV) syngas, efficiency and percent (%)
conversion gas, but the results obtained have
not reached the optimum point.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that there is no
conflict of interests regarding the publication
of this paper.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors express their
acknowledgements to the Ministry of
Chemical Engineering, State Polytechnic of
Sriwijaya.
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