The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System

This research paper analyzes the use of plasma technology to process biomass in the form of dried, mixed animal manure (dung containing 30% moisture). The irrational use of manure as well as huge quantities of it can negatively impact the environment. In comparison to biomass fermentation, the plasm...

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Main Authors: Vladimir E. Messerle, Alexandr B. Ustimenko, Oleg A. Lavrichshev, Marina K. Nugman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5594
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author Vladimir E. Messerle
Alexandr B. Ustimenko
Oleg A. Lavrichshev
Marina K. Nugman
author_facet Vladimir E. Messerle
Alexandr B. Ustimenko
Oleg A. Lavrichshev
Marina K. Nugman
author_sort Vladimir E. Messerle
collection DOAJ
description This research paper analyzes the use of plasma technology to process biomass in the form of dried, mixed animal manure (dung containing 30% moisture). The irrational use of manure as well as huge quantities of it can negatively impact the environment. In comparison to biomass fermentation, the plasma processing of manure can greatly enhance the production of fuel gas, primarily synthesis gas (CO + H<sub>2</sub>). The organic part of dung, including the moisture, is represented by carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a total concentration of 95.21%, while the mineral part is only 4.79%. A numerical analysis of dung plasma gasification and pyrolysis was conducted using the thermodynamic code TERRA. For 300–3000 K and 0.1 MPa pressure, the dung gasification and pyrolysis were calculated with 100% dung + 25% air and 100% dung + 25% nitrogen, respectively. Calculations were performed to determine the specific energy consumption of the process, the composition of the products of gasification, and the extent of the carbon gasification. At 1500 K, the dung gasification and pyrolysis consumed 1.28 and 1.33 kWh/kg of specific energy, respectively. A direct-current plasma torch with a power rating of 70 kW and a plasma reactor with a dung processing capacity of 50 kg/h were used for the dung processing experiments. The plasma reactor consumed 1.5 and 1.4 kWh/kg when pyrolyzing and gasifying the dung. A maximum temperature of 1887 K was reached in the reactor. The plasma pyrolysis of dung and the plasma–air gasification of dung produced gases with specific heats of combustion of 10,500 and 10,340 kJ/kg, respectively. Calculations and experiments on dung plasma processing showed satisfactory agreement. In this research, exergy analysis was used to quantify the efficiency of the plasma gasification of biomass. One of the research tasks was to develop a methodology and establish standards for the further standardization of monitoring the toxic emissions of dioxins, furans, and Benzo[a]pyrene.
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spelling doaj-art-e8367a86a52f45f7afaa0812fb9ba2232025-08-20T01:53:45ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011722559410.3390/en17225594The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma SystemVladimir E. Messerle0Alexandr B. Ustimenko1Oleg A. Lavrichshev2Marina K. Nugman3The Institute of Combustion Problems of the Ministry of Science and High Education of Kazakhstan, Almaty 050012, KazakhstanThe Institute of Combustion Problems of the Ministry of Science and High Education of Kazakhstan, Almaty 050012, KazakhstanCombustion Problems Institute, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, KazakhstanCombustion Problems Institute, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, KazakhstanThis research paper analyzes the use of plasma technology to process biomass in the form of dried, mixed animal manure (dung containing 30% moisture). The irrational use of manure as well as huge quantities of it can negatively impact the environment. In comparison to biomass fermentation, the plasma processing of manure can greatly enhance the production of fuel gas, primarily synthesis gas (CO + H<sub>2</sub>). The organic part of dung, including the moisture, is represented by carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with a total concentration of 95.21%, while the mineral part is only 4.79%. A numerical analysis of dung plasma gasification and pyrolysis was conducted using the thermodynamic code TERRA. For 300–3000 K and 0.1 MPa pressure, the dung gasification and pyrolysis were calculated with 100% dung + 25% air and 100% dung + 25% nitrogen, respectively. Calculations were performed to determine the specific energy consumption of the process, the composition of the products of gasification, and the extent of the carbon gasification. At 1500 K, the dung gasification and pyrolysis consumed 1.28 and 1.33 kWh/kg of specific energy, respectively. A direct-current plasma torch with a power rating of 70 kW and a plasma reactor with a dung processing capacity of 50 kg/h were used for the dung processing experiments. The plasma reactor consumed 1.5 and 1.4 kWh/kg when pyrolyzing and gasifying the dung. A maximum temperature of 1887 K was reached in the reactor. The plasma pyrolysis of dung and the plasma–air gasification of dung produced gases with specific heats of combustion of 10,500 and 10,340 kJ/kg, respectively. Calculations and experiments on dung plasma processing showed satisfactory agreement. In this research, exergy analysis was used to quantify the efficiency of the plasma gasification of biomass. One of the research tasks was to develop a methodology and establish standards for the further standardization of monitoring the toxic emissions of dioxins, furans, and Benzo[a]pyrene.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5594biomassplasma reactorprocessingsynthesis gasthermodynamicsexperiment
spellingShingle Vladimir E. Messerle
Alexandr B. Ustimenko
Oleg A. Lavrichshev
Marina K. Nugman
The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System
Energies
biomass
plasma reactor
processing
synthesis gas
thermodynamics
experiment
title The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System
title_full The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System
title_fullStr The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System
title_full_unstemmed The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System
title_short The Gasification and Pyrolysis of Biomass Using a Plasma System
title_sort gasification and pyrolysis of biomass using a plasma system
topic biomass
plasma reactor
processing
synthesis gas
thermodynamics
experiment
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5594
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