Preliminary Experimental Results and Modelling Study of Olive Kernel Gasification in a 2 MWth BFB Gasifier

Gasification is a promising and attractive thermochemical method for biomass-to-energy conversion, with fluidized bed reactors being one of the best options for large-scale operations. Olive residues in particular are potentially excellent candidate biomass fuels in the Mediterranean area, due to the region's increased capacity in olive oil production. Herein, the gasification experiments of olive kernels in a 2 MWth air-blown, bubbling fluidized bed reactor located at CENER's facilities (BIO2C) in Navarra, Spain are presented. Even though technical issues were demonstrated due to the operation of the plant with a high-density biomass fuel and given the scale of the process, a quasi-steady-state and isothermal 12 h operation at an equivalence ratio of 0.25 +/- 0.03 was attained. Given the satisfactory experimental results, an Aspen Plus simulation model of the process was also attempted. Notably, the proposed methodology agrees well with the experimental results and can be regarded as a starting point in future studies examining the gasification of relevant biomass in a MW-scale unit. Next, the effect of equivalence ratio and residual biomass moisture content were also evaluated, with the scope of designing future experiments that require minor modifications in the already existing apparatus. Finally, a syngas utilization route through the provision of energy for district heating purposes in the nearby village of Aoiz was proposed.