Impact of torrefaction on entrained-flow gasification of pine sawdust: An experimental investigation

Entrained-flow gasification of raw and torrefied pine sawdust (PS) was conducted at 1300 degrees C and different equivalence ratios (ERs). The effects of torrefaction conditions on gasification performance as well as the relationship between soot yield and the volatile content of feedstocks were investigated. An additional burning procedure after gasification was used to quantify the carbon deposits (CD) inside the reactor tube, which completed the mass balance calculation and thus enabled reliable conclusions to be made. The results of the entrained-flow gasification tests indicated that PS torrefied at 280 degrees C exhibited a better gasification performance than raw PS and PS torrefied at other temperatures. Moreover, it was found that torrefaction pretreatment also reduced soot yield. These results indicated that the total yield of soot and CD is closely related to the content of volatile matter in feedstocks.