Set up of a pilot scale catalytic fluidized bed reactor for Biomass gasification

The paper deals with the setup of a fluidized bed reactor and its utilization for preliminary experimental tests of biomass gasification. Two different bed materials have been adopted: inert quartzite as reference case, and Ni-alumina catalyst. The gasification tests have been carried out at steady state, under operating conditions typical for gasification as reported in the paper. The gas analyses have been performed with dedicated instrumentation, like continuous analyzers and gas-chromatograph, and adopting a standard protocol for tar sampling and characterization. The influence of the equivalence ratio (Φ) and the steam-fuel ratio (Ψ) on the concentration of stable gases (e.g. H2, CO2, CO, CH4 and light hydrocarbons) as well as on the efficiency of tar conversion has been studied. In particular the catalyst enhances the H2 yield as well as reduces the tar production, whatever Φ and Ψ are