Experimental study of a compartmented fluidized bed gasifier for fuel gas production from oil palm shell biomass

Both experimental study of pilot plant scale cold flow model and pilot plant performance testing were carried out in this research with particular reference to palm shell as a biomass feedstock. The reactor was based on the concept of compartmented fluidized bed gasifier (CFBG). Sand was used as second fluidizing material.From the cold flow model, the single component (sand) system characteristic fluidization velocities for the gasifier are larger than those observed in the combustor. These differences can be minimized by utilizing larger sand size. The existing correlations are modified for the sand. For the binary mixture, the characteristic fluidization velocities showed the tendency to increase with the increase in the palm shell size and weight percent. The concept of critical loading is introduced to characterize the palm shell content in the binary mixture where the characteristic fluidization velocities for the binary mixture are determined principally by the sand. The critical loading increases with the sand size, but decreases with the increase of palm shell size. The correlations developed for the sand can be used for the binary mixture within the critical loading.Despite of the local variation on the palm shell vertical and lateral distribution, the overall good mixing quality can be established in both the compartments. The overall mixing quality is enhanced with the decrease in the palm shell size and the increase in the palm shell weight percent. Bigger bed diameter also improves the overall mixing quality while bed height did not contribute significantly.Solid circulation rate (SCR) increases with the increase in the bed height while the main bed aeration does not affect the SCR. Based on statistical approach, the V-valve and riser aerations are simultaneously adjusted to determine the optimum SCR. Optimum SCR value increases with the increase in the sand size.The pilot plant designed by using the findings from the cold flow model has demonstrated CFBG as a prospective technology for palm shell gasification for the production of medium calorific value fuel gas. The conceptual model of the palm shell gasification process was proposed

Bio-Based Oil Drilling Fluid Improvements through Carbon- Based Nanoparticle Additives

Performance issues of vegetable oil or bio-based oil drilling fluids are generally inferior as compared to synthetic based drilling fluids. This chapter focuses largely on thermal conductivity and rheological properties of bio-based oil drilling fluid as its core issues. Unstable drilling fluids do not only incur in downtime for maintenance, but it indirectly affects production capacity as well. To overcome these issues, nanoparticles acts as additives to improve the thermo-physical traits of bio-based oil drilling fluid. The scope of this chapter focuses on dispersion of graphene oxide at very low concentration, namely 25, 50 and 100 ppm, to improve the thermal conductivity and rheological properties of bio-based oil drilling fluid. The data obtained from thermal conductivity and rheological experimental works were validated with various thermal conductivity and rheological models

Heat Exchanger Network Retrofit of an Oleochemical Plant through a Cost and Energy Efficiency Approach

Limited research of heat integration has been conducted in the oleochemical field. This paper attempts to evaluate the performance of an existing heat exchanger network (HEN) of an oleochemical plant at 600 tonnes per day (TPD) in Malaysia, in which the emphases are placed on the annual saving and reduction in energy consumption. Using commercial HEN numerical software, ASPEN Energy Analyzer v10.0, it was found that the performance of the current HEN in place is excellent, saving over 80% in annual costs and reducing energy consumption by 1,882,711 gigajoule per year (GJ/year). Further analysis of the performance of the HEN was performed to identify the potential optimisation of untapped heating/cooling process streams. Two cases, which are the most cost-effective and energy efficient, were proposed with positive results. However, the second case performed better than the first case, at a lower payback time (0.83 year) and higher annual savings (0.20 million USD/year) with the addition of one heat exchanger at a capital cost of USD 134,620. The first case had a higher payback time (4.64 years), a lower annual saving (0.05 million USD/year) and three additional heaters at a capital cost of USD 193,480. This research has provided a new insight into the oleochemical industry in which retrofitting the HEN can further reduce energy consumption, which in return will reduce the overall production cost of oleochemical commodities. This is particularly crucial in making the product more competitive in its pricing in the global market

Heat integration of a boiler and its corresponding environmental study in an oleochemical production plant:An industry case study in Malaysia

The growing demands for oleochemical products are expected to reach approximately RM 157.59 billion by 2026 due to an increased drive from the food and beverages, chemicals, and pharmaceutical industries. However, this will lead to an increase in energy consumption and subsequent flue gas emission. Proper utilization of waste gas recovery systems is thus a major research area, focusing on reducing fuel consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases without affecting process performance. In this paper, a palm oil-based oleochemical plant is studied. The fuel consumption and emission of flue gas from a thermal oil boiler were measured and the feasibility of implementation of a waste heat recovery system and its environmental impact study. The results show that the implementation of such a system can reduce natural fuel gas consumption by 17.29% and approximately 149.29 t per annum of carbon dioxide gas (CO2). Moreover, the concentration of CO2 released into highly-populated communities is estimated through a Gaussian Plume Model at different wind speed conditions. The preliminary results show that the CO2 concentration at two locations—an apartment and a local school located within 1.5 km of the plant—is well below the concentration limit of 1.938 g/m3 recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Services

Review on hydrogen production technologies in Malaysia

Hydrogen has wide applications in petroleum, chemical synthesis and has been successfully demonstrated as a potentially zero emission fuel for transportations. As a country that is rich with natural resources and with the aims to be a developed country in 2020, Malaysia is currently intensified its renewable energy activities. The present work reviews all the resources and technologies related to hydrogen production in Malaysia. These technologies include non-renewable e.g. steam methane reforming (SMR) and renewable resources related to biomass processes e.g. gasification, pyrolysis, supercritical water gasification, biological water gas shift reaction, fermentation and water electrolysis e.g. using solar and wind energy. The techno-economic review is then presented for all these technologies to highlight the potential of present and future hydrogen production technologies in Malaysia

Process of production hydrogen rich gas from biomass

The present invention relates to a process of producing hydrogen-rich gas from biomass comprising the steps of continuously feeding biomass into a gasification unit (115), wherein said biomass is in dried, ground form; gasifying the biomass with superheated steam in the gasification unit (115) in the presence of a carbon dioxide adsorbent at temperature ranging from 600°c to 750°c; and pressurizing product gas resulted from the gasification unit prior to being subjected to a gas purification unit (130) for hydrogen-rich gas production, wherein the gasification reaction is carried out under a condition where the steam-to-biomass ratio is of 2.0 and the carbon dioxide adsorbent-to biomass ratio of 1.0

Review on hydrogen production technologies in Malaysia

Hydrogen has wide applications in petroleum, chemical synthesis and has been successfully demonstrated as a potentially zero emission fuel for transportations. As a country that is rich with natural resources and with the aims to be a developed country in 2020, Malaysia is currently intensified its renewable energy activities. The present work reviews all the resources and technologies related to hydrogen production in Malaysia. These technologies include non-renewable e.g. steam methane reforming (SMR) and renewable resources related to biomass processes e.g. gasification, pyrolysis, supercritical water gasification, biological water gas shift reaction, fermentation and water electrolysis e.g. using solar and wind energy. The techno-economic review is then presented for all these technologies to highlight the potential of present and future hydrogen production technologies in Malaysia

Process of production hydrogen rich gas from biomass

The present invention relates to a process of producing hydrogen-rich gas from biomass comprising the steps of continuously feeding biomass into a gasification unit (115), wherein said biomass is in dried, ground form; gasifying the biomass with superheated steam in the gasification unit (115) in the presence of a carbon dioxide adsorbent at temperature ranging from 600°c to 750°c; and pressurizing product gas resulted from the gasification unit prior to being subjected to a gas purification unit (130) for hydrogen-rich gas production, wherein the gasification reaction is carried out under a condition where the steam-to-biomass ratio is of 2.0 and the carbon dioxide adsorbent-to biomass ratio of 1.0