Towards the implementation of the blaze technology for chp applications: Preliminary gasification tests at a bench scale bubbling fluidized bed

Experimental gasification campaigns were carried out at a bench scale facility based on a bubbling fluidized bed reactor to test residual biomass feedstocks. Aim of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of a local dolomite as in-bed catalyst/sorbent towards the reduction of the tar and inorganic (e.g. H2S, HCl, NH3) contaminant load in the producer gas. Obtained results clearly showed the efficacy of the adopted dolomite material toward the reduction of tar and sour gas contaminants. Specifically, by testing low grade corn grit, among those considered, one of the biomass feedstocks with relatively high S and Cl content, reductions in the range 70-80%-wt for H2S and 20-30% for HCl were evaluated. Positive effect was also observed toward the tar content. Compared to tests carried out with olivine only, around 70%-wt tar reduction was observed when an olivine/calcined-dolomite mixture was used. After tests, samples of used olivine and calcined-dolomite were collected and analyzed for XRD characterizations to assess changes occurred on the grains during the gasification process.