Biomass integrated gasification-SOFC systems: Technology overview

Zia Ud Din, Z. A. Zainal*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

196 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The combination of biomass gasification with fuel cells, especially high temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) promises sustainable and highly efficient (decentralized and modular) energy conversion systems. This review encompasses the components of biomass integrated gasification-SOFC technology including biomass characteristics, the thermochemical conversion in gasifiers and the factors affecting the gasification process, the cleaning technologies for raw producer gas and its conditioning and finally the integration of gasifier with SOFCs. The influence of impurities present in biomass producer gas such as particulates, tar, H2S, HCl and alkali compounds based on recent experimental studies and their tolerance limits towards SOFCs are presented. Even though analysis based on the probable tolerance limits of impurities towards SOFCs and a comprehensive overview of the cleaning technologies for producer gas impurities indicate that producer gas cleaning at various temperatures using current technologies to meet SOFC requirements is possible, more experimental studies are still needed to acquire the detailed information on the tolerance limits of impurities for SOFCs. The recent theoretical modeling and experimental studies of biomass integrated gasification-SOFC systems are also presented.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1356-1376
Number of pages21
JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Volume53
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2016

Keywords

  • Biomass gasification
  • Gas cleaning
  • Gasifier-SOFC system
  • SOFC

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

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