GASIFICATION OF RICE HULLS

The behaviour of a downdraft gasifier of 30 cm diameter and 140 cm height using rice hulls as a fuel, has been tested. Feeding rates of 1.3-5.1 kg hulls/hr and air flow-rates of 2-4.44 m3/hr which corresponds to 26-55% of the stoichiometric amount needed for complete combustion, were used. The maximum temperature attained was found to lie between 570-degrees-C and 820-degrees-C. It was found that when using 55% of the air needed for complete combustion, the highest percentage of combustible constituents in the produced gas was attained. The obtained gas had 13.67% CO, 5.13% H-2 and 2.42% CH4.