A numerical investigation of carbon conversion using a random pore model in gasification process for selected carbonaceous feedstocks, kinetics studies, artificial intelligence and machine learning applications

The objective of this research is to investigate the effects of varying process conditions, as well as the random pore model (RPM), on the gasification of selected carbonaceous feedstocks such as wood pellet char (WPC), palm kernel shells (PKSs), pine residues (PRs), pine sawdust char (PSC), switchgrass (SGs), wheat DDGS, and corn DDGS, which are sourced from the literature. The chosen steam gasification temperature was 850°C for WPC. Temperature 600°C, 700°C, and 800°C were for SGs under two different catalysts. For wheat and corn DDGS, tests were conducted at temperatures ranging from 700 to 900°C in 50°C increments, and data were simulated every minute over a duration of 30 min. A steam flow rate of 0–0.357 g/min/g biomass char and temperatures varying from 600°C to 850°C were selected for PSC only. S/B ratios of 0.74, 1.23, 1.85, and 2.34, along with a temperature of 780°C, were considered for PRs only. Biochar, used as a catalyst for tar removal, and a biomass-to-air equivalent ratio of 1:0.6 were the selected parameters for PKSs. The structural parameter ψ value for selected carbonaceous feedstocks, at each temperature and S/B ratio, is determined by the overall gasification reaction rate equation considered in this work. Based on the mineral composition found in the chars and ash, the alkali index and base-to-acid ratio were determined. For the SCM and HM, the activation energy of SGs gasification is 10.47 kJ/mol and 12.09 kJ/mol for the biochar catalyst and 9.11 kJ/mol and 8.24 kJ/mol for the NextechA catalyst, respectively. According to the SCM and HM models, the activation energies for wheat and corn DDGS are 44.32, 31.97, and 52.64, 38.74 kJ/mol, respectively. The findings indicate that, in comparison to the gasification of DDGS for wheat and corn, the activation energy of SGs gasification under catalytic conditions is underside. The catalyst lowers the activation energy of SGs gasification. The Boudouard reaction, tar cracking techniques, and the activation energies for SGs, wheat, and corn DDGS at each temperature were also included in this investigation. Carbon dioxide conversion technologies and AI/ML models have been introduced as future directions for the research.