Sensitivity analysis and process optimization for biomass processing in an integrated gasifier-solid oxide fuel cell system

Hydrogen (H2) production from biomass is always attractive due to its carbon-neutral nature. However, the high energy requirement in biomass gasification and the processing of synthesis gas (syngas) has become the primary concern of the application of this technique. The combined gasifier-solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system shows promising potential for significant energy efficiency improvement. However, there is still space to optimize the performance of such combined systems. A novel zero-dimensional (0D) mass-transfer-based model was developed to find the optimal operating parameters for H2 production and to maximize the power density. Coal, sugarcane bagasse, and marine algae were used as feeds to analyze the effects of relevant parameters. A sensitivity analysis of the operational conditions was undertaken to better understand the characteristic trends associated with the maximum power and H2 production. This work optimized the conditions respected with the power density. It was found that the highest power density could be achieved by manipulating operating variables. It is concluded that marine algae have the highest power output but the lowest system efficiency due to high moisture and ash content. Coal produces low power output than biomasses. Hence, sugarcane bagasse is the most efficient feedstock for integrated gasifier-SOFC systems.