Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification

Producer gas (PG) from biomass gasification is a promising carbon-neutral alternative fuel that can be utilized for power generation in steam boilers. However, conventional swirler axial burners design suffers from its low efficiency and high pollutant emission when using PG due to its low energy de...

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Main Authors: Omar Al Rifai, K.A. Al-attab, Ibrahim I. Enagi, K.F. Mustafa, Abdul Rahman Mohamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-10-01
Series:Green Technologies and Sustainability
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949736125000545
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author Omar Al Rifai
K.A. Al-attab
Ibrahim I. Enagi
K.F. Mustafa
Abdul Rahman Mohamed
author_facet Omar Al Rifai
K.A. Al-attab
Ibrahim I. Enagi
K.F. Mustafa
Abdul Rahman Mohamed
author_sort Omar Al Rifai
collection DOAJ
description Producer gas (PG) from biomass gasification is a promising carbon-neutral alternative fuel that can be utilized for power generation in steam boilers. However, conventional swirler axial burners design suffers from its low efficiency and high pollutant emission when using PG due to its low energy density caused by the high dilution with N2and CO2. This study aims to address the need for optimizing Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion, a promising technique known for its temperature homogeneity and emissions characteristics. This is achieved through a two-stage full factorial statistical optimization using Design of Experiments (DoE) tools and ANSYS-FLUENT simulations to optimize the chamber geometry and operating conditions. Circular and square cross-section geometries were compared. The optimum geometry for Circular design was 200 mm in diameter and 1000 mm in length, while square design was 548.8 mm in height and 1500 mm in length. The Circular design with lower emissions and smaller size was further optimized in second-stage DoE where the equivalence ratio (φ) and fuel inlet jet velocity (Vf) were manipulated. φ showed significant effect on pollutant emissions while 100 m/s provided adequate internal gas circulation to achieve MILD condition, and further increase in velocity did not show significant enhancement of combustion.
format Article
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institution OA Journals
issn 2949-7361
language English
publishDate 2025-10-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
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series Green Technologies and Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-6dc8cdc600a2446e80b46f94da421b452025-08-20T02:09:08ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Green Technologies and Sustainability2949-73612025-10-013410022010.1016/j.grets.2025.100220Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasificationOmar Al Rifai0K.A. Al-attab1Ibrahim I. Enagi2K.F. Mustafa3Abdul Rahman Mohamed4Mechanical Engineering department, Australian University, School of Engineering, West Mishref, Kuwait; School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, Malaysia; Corresponding author.Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, Federal Polytechnic, P.M.B 55, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria; School of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, MalaysiaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Engineering Campus, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Penang, MalaysiaProducer gas (PG) from biomass gasification is a promising carbon-neutral alternative fuel that can be utilized for power generation in steam boilers. However, conventional swirler axial burners design suffers from its low efficiency and high pollutant emission when using PG due to its low energy density caused by the high dilution with N2and CO2. This study aims to address the need for optimizing Moderate or Intense Low-oxygen Dilution (MILD) combustion, a promising technique known for its temperature homogeneity and emissions characteristics. This is achieved through a two-stage full factorial statistical optimization using Design of Experiments (DoE) tools and ANSYS-FLUENT simulations to optimize the chamber geometry and operating conditions. Circular and square cross-section geometries were compared. The optimum geometry for Circular design was 200 mm in diameter and 1000 mm in length, while square design was 548.8 mm in height and 1500 mm in length. The Circular design with lower emissions and smaller size was further optimized in second-stage DoE where the equivalence ratio (φ) and fuel inlet jet velocity (Vf) were manipulated. φ showed significant effect on pollutant emissions while 100 m/s provided adequate internal gas circulation to achieve MILD condition, and further increase in velocity did not show significant enhancement of combustion.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949736125000545Biomass gasificationProducer gasMILD combustionOptimizationCFD simulation
spellingShingle Omar Al Rifai
K.A. Al-attab
Ibrahim I. Enagi
K.F. Mustafa
Abdul Rahman Mohamed
Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
Green Technologies and Sustainability
Biomass gasification
Producer gas
MILD combustion
Optimization
CFD simulation
title Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
title_full Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
title_fullStr Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
title_short Optimization of MILD chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
title_sort optimization of mild chamber design for combustion of producer gas from biomass gasification
topic Biomass gasification
Producer gas
MILD combustion
Optimization
CFD simulation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949736125000545
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AT kaalattab optimizationofmildchamberdesignforcombustionofproducergasfrombiomassgasification
AT ibrahimienagi optimizationofmildchamberdesignforcombustionofproducergasfrombiomassgasification
AT kfmustafa optimizationofmildchamberdesignforcombustionofproducergasfrombiomassgasification
AT abdulrahmanmohamed optimizationofmildchamberdesignforcombustionofproducergasfrombiomassgasification