Abstract:
This paper focuses on evaluating shrinkage of a
biomass packed bed. A laboratory scale packed bed is designed to
conduct experiments in batch mode. Different types of biomass i.e.
Ginisiriya, coconut shells and rubber are used for the packed bed
to study the behavior of bed shrinkage. The model uses inlet air
stream at room temperature as the gasifying medium and a fixed
batch of biomass. Ignition of the biomass batch is initiated by an
external heat source. Further operation is maintained by the own
heat emitted by combustion reactions, until the whole batch is
finished. As the time goes height of the packed bed is decreasing
due the shrinkage of the bed. Empirical data obtained from this
model can be used to evaluate the bed shrinkage and temperature
variations in solid phase and gas phase with time.
