Abstract: The process heat integration with other energy sources has been considered as an alternative to minimize the energy cost incurred by small-scale bio-ethanol plants. In this paper the result of a study conducted to evaluate the effect of utilizing biomass gasification as source of energy in bio-ethanol production is presented. The study assessed the effect in bio-ethanol production cost when conventional energy sources are replaced with biomass gasification. Material characterization was done, followed by fabrication and testing of a 100 kW updraft gasifier prototype. The developed 100 kW gasifier was tested using rice husk which are readily available. The properties of rice husk were analyzed through proximate analysis. These properties were used in preparing the mathematical model for mass and energy balance. The developed gasifier was found to operate at an efficiency of 51% and produces syngas with calorific value estimated to be 2.02 MJ/kg. Utilizing rice husk gasification can replace the conventional energy sources with estimated 17.6% energy cost saving to bio-ethanol plants. These results show the potential of using biomass gasification as sources of energy to small scale bio-ethanol production plants.
Keywords: Biomass, gasification, Bio-ethanol, economics.
Title: The Effect of Using Biomass Gasification as Source of Energy to Small Scale Bio-ethanol Production
Author: Raphael Iddphonce Mkini, John Pius John, Masoud Mlela Kamoleka
International Journal of Engineering Research and Reviews
ISSN 2348-697X (Online)
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