Gasification of biomass: comparison of fixed bed and fluidized bed gasifier

Gasification as a thermochemical process is defined and limited to combusti on and pyrolysis. A systematic overview of reactor designs categorizes fixe d bed and fluidized bed reactors. Criteria for a comparison of these reacto rs are worked out, i.e. technology, use of material, use of energy, environ ment and economy. A utility analysis for thermochemical processes is sugges ted. It shows that the advantages of one of the reactor types are marginal. An advantage mainly depends on the physical consistency of the input. As a result there is no significant advantage for the fixed bed or the fluidize d bed reactor. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.