Biomass gasification as a means for avoiding fouling and corrosion during combustion

Gasification of biomass at 600-800 degrees C can produce an effluent gas for use in a combustor for power production after removal of the solid products of gasification by hot gas cleanup (e.g., aspen wood). This will avoid the fouling and/or corrosion often found in biomass combustion. Biomasses which form liquids below 800 degrees C (e.g., wheat straw) require the use of additives which raise the lowest temperatures for the presence of inorganic liquids to over 800 degrees C. This alternative path for avoiding the fouling and corrosion found during combustion of many biomasses probably can be applied to a broad range of analogous materials. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.