NUMERICAL MODELING OF BIOMASS GASIFICATION USING COW DUNG AS FEEDSTOCK

● Gasification of cow dung was evaluated using Aspen Plus software.● Optimum reaction conditions were utilized to maximize hydrogen production.● Steam gasification can effectively increase hydrogen production.● Optimum hydrogen production was achieved at 800 °C and steam/biomass of 1.5 and 0.1 MPa. In this study, a biomass gasification model was developed and simulated based on Gibbs free energy minimization by using software Aspen Plus. Two reactors, RYIELD and RGIBBS, were moslty used. The biomass feedstock used was cow dung. The model was validated. The composition, H2/CO ratio and low heating value (LHV) of the resulting synthetic gas (also known as syngas) was estimated by changing the operating parameters of gasification temperatures, steam and biomass ratios and pressures. Simulation results showed that increased gasification temperature helped to elevate H2 and CO content and H2 peaked at 900 °C. When steam increased as the gasification agent, H2 production increased. However, the steam/biomass (S/B) ratio negatively affected CO and CH4, resulting in lower LHV. The optimal S/B ratio was 1.5. An increase in pressure lead to a decrease in H2 and CO content, so the optimal pressure for gasification was 0.1 MPa.