KINETICS OF BIOMASS GASIFICATION

Abstract

Over the last several decades the need for the exploitation of the renewable energy sources for meeting the ever increasing energy requirements has become more demanding for India which is importing significant amounts of crude oil and petroleum products. Among the alternative sources, biomass occupies a prominent role. The increase in oil and gas production has been largely due to the accelerated development of the Bombay High offshore basin. Crude oil production increased from 29mt (million tones) in 1984/85 to 32.2mt in 1994/95. Gross natural gas production increased phenomenally from 7241 mm3 (16.6 mote) to 8724 mm3 (20.0 mote) in 1994 to 1995 [Tripathi, (1998)]. India continues to be a net energy importer, the net crude oil and petroleum product imports in 1994/95 being 41.7 mote (during 1984/85, the net imports were 20.1 mote). Imports of superior grade coal increased from 0.3 motes in 1984/85 to 4.1 motes in 1994/95. Two other significant trends which may be noted are: a rapid increase in indigenous crude oil production, at least until 1984/85, when it was nearly 29mt; and a near stabilization of crude oil production has more or less stabilized at 33mt a year since 1994/95. Net availability of commercial energy for final consumption increased from 85.8 motes in 1984/85 to 148.6 motes in 1994/95. Energy lost in conversion processes (power generation, oil refining, and soft-coke production) increased from 27.6 to 62 motes during the same period..