1 THERMODYNAMIC EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS OF GASIFICATION OF

Abstract: Since the coal is one of major source of energy it is predicted that will continue to play an important role in the world energy demands. Although as a fossil resource, i.e. a non-renewable resource, that should take into account atmosphere emissions. Recently, the gasification has proven to be very promising to enable the conversion of carbon-based fuels for applications in synthesis and co-generation. In this sense, the joint processing of coal and renewable carbon-based fuel (biomass) allows to use coal in a cleaner way. This work evaluates the gasification potential of coal and biomass available in Brazil. For that a thermodynamic approach is used. High ash coal and biomasses of bigger energetic potential for co-generation are evaluated. Predictions evaluate the process performance through the estimation of efficiency by changing operational conditions, concerning the gasifying agent (air and steam). The preliminary results show the range of 70 to 80 % efficiency by using only air as gasifying agent with up to 65 % of stoichiometric air demand. On the other hand, using air and steam those values can reach 85 % to close to 100 % with smaller than 40 % of stoichiometric air demand