Hydrogen-rich syngas production from biomass in a steam microwave-induced plasma gasification reactor
Hydrogen-rich syngas production from biomass in a steam microwave-induced plasma gasification reactor
Substitution of fossil fuels by sustainable practices must be rapidly implemented to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The conversion of biomass into combustible gas is investigated in a microwave-induced plasma reactor using pure steam as the plasma working gas for the first time. The optimum results are achieved at the highest forward microwave power of 6kW with biomass carbon conversion efficiency over 98% and complete biomass energy recovery in syngas. Unreacted steam is simply condensed out, leading to the production of a syngas with low inert dilution and high calorific value in the range 10.5-12MJ/Nm3. The syngas produced is rich in hydrogen, exceeding 60% by volume. The proposed process could aid in the transition to a carbon neutral economy as it has the potential to efficiently convert biomass to syngas that can be used for the sustainable generation of fuels, chemicals and energy.
Biomass, Gasification, Hydrogen, Microwaves, Plasma
Vecten, Simon
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Wilkinson, Michael
13c4494c-2155-4aec-9273-da13f58ccce0
Bimbo, Nuno
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Dawson, Richard
e7b551fc-e0fa-42d1-97e0-92d7addc1693
Herbert, Ben M.J.
af4a8a58-48f7-4388-8f92-c3dbd1968daf
October 2021
Vecten, Simon
7f401db0-0c73-4c7d-b674-a8f40b169616
Wilkinson, Michael
13c4494c-2155-4aec-9273-da13f58ccce0
Bimbo, Nuno
53d9fc24-e2c1-4e2d-8d75-8dc640d8adda
Dawson, Richard
e7b551fc-e0fa-42d1-97e0-92d7addc1693
Herbert, Ben M.J.
af4a8a58-48f7-4388-8f92-c3dbd1968daf
Vecten, Simon, Wilkinson, Michael, Bimbo, Nuno, Dawson, Richard and Herbert, Ben M.J.
(2021)
Hydrogen-rich syngas production from biomass in a steam microwave-induced plasma gasification reactor.
Bioresource Technology, 337, [125324].
(doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125324).
Abstract
Substitution of fossil fuels by sustainable practices must be rapidly implemented to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The conversion of biomass into combustible gas is investigated in a microwave-induced plasma reactor using pure steam as the plasma working gas for the first time. The optimum results are achieved at the highest forward microwave power of 6kW with biomass carbon conversion efficiency over 98% and complete biomass energy recovery in syngas. Unreacted steam is simply condensed out, leading to the production of a syngas with low inert dilution and high calorific value in the range 10.5-12MJ/Nm3. The syngas produced is rich in hydrogen, exceeding 60% by volume. The proposed process could aid in the transition to a carbon neutral economy as it has the potential to efficiently convert biomass to syngas that can be used for the sustainable generation of fuels, chemicals and energy.
Text
Vecten et al. Revised Manuscript
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 18 May 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 24 May 2021
Published date: October 2021
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation in partnership between Lancaster University and Stopford Projects Ltd (grant number 19R16P01012); and Innovate UK (grant number 133710).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords:
Biomass, Gasification, Hydrogen, Microwaves, Plasma
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 449627
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449627
ISSN: 0960-8524
PURE UUID: eb18c187-fd57-4c30-86fa-e6f0c7127392
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Date deposited: 09 Jun 2021 16:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 06:37
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Author:
Simon Vecten
Author:
Michael Wilkinson
Author:
Richard Dawson
Author:
Ben M.J. Herbert
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