ENERGY AND EXERGY ANALYSIS OF RICE STRAW GASIFICATION

In this study, energy and exergy analyzes were performed in the gasification of rice straw pellets prepared in 5 different blends: PRF (reference sample with no additives), PVA3 (rice straw + 3% PVA), PML5 (rice straw + 5% molasses), PC5 (rice straw + 5% coal dust), and PC15 (rice straw + 15% coal dust). The average mass flow rates was measured in the gasification process. The tar and gas flow rates varied between 5.30g/s and 5.70g/s, 0.063g/s and 0.069g/s and between 0.424mol/s and 0.464mol/s, respectively. The heating value (LHV) of the pellets ranged from 12.45MJ/kg to 12.93MJ/kg. The calorific values of the obtained syngas samples were between 3885.5MJ/Nm3 and 4427.7MJ/Nm3. The energy efficiency of the pellet samples in gasification ranged from 53.44% to 58.01% and exergy efficiency varied from 49.19% to 53.48%. The lowest irreversibility value in the gasification process was 36.74kW in PC5 pellet, the highest irreversibility value was 44.21kW in PRF pellet. As a result of the thermodynamic analysis of the pellet samples in gasification, it was concluded that there is no need to add any additives in the pelletization of the rice straw.