Development of Laboratory Scale Updraft Biomass Gasifier

This book presents the design and manufacture of 11.19kW laboratory scale updraft gasifier. The design is based on empirical studies of the gasification system. The technology employed is simple to understand and can be applied to other gasifiers such as cook stoves and downdraft. The performance test carried out on both sawdust and palm kernel shell indicates the heat energy input of 28,125kJ and 31,633.06kJ, power input of 7.812kW and 8.79kW, power output of 5.47kW and 6.15kW and the respective gasifier efficiency of 93% and 67.4%. The Higher Heating Values are 23.4MJ/kg and 15.8MJ/kg while the Low Heating Values are 22.2MJ/kg and 15.0MJ/kg. The study has identified that sawdust and palm kernel shell are suitable for the gasifier. This gasifier has been made to meet various energy demands from local readily available materials and can be developed for various applications of heating, electricity supply and generation of combustible gases. It will be useful to students of Energy Systems and Mechanical Design and manufactures of small scale gasifiers. The system can work on more than one feed stock.