Analysis of Energy Saving Potential of Combined Thermal Solar Power and Micro Scale Gasification Systems

Abstract

This work investigates the advantages that can be gained through the proper integration between a thermal solar module and a small-scale gasification system. The gasification power plant here studied consists in a PP20 Power Pallet, a complete power plant capable of 20 kW of electrical power. Fresnel lens concentrated thermal solar panel system is used as heat source for the gasification power plant. Different scenarios are drafted looking at the different way the heat can be provided. One scenario investigates the use of solar heat to dry the gasifier fuel (wood chips). It is proven that dried fuel allows a reduced tar production in gasification systems as well as an increase in the gasification efficiency. A second scenario investigates the possibility of pre-heating the air used as gasification agent. Air pre-heating produces a higher temperature combustion zone, with higher chance to perform a better thermal cracking of the tarry compounds yielded by the pyrolysis zone. Results show that the solar unit is capable of air preheating up to 149 °C, nevertheless the efficiency increase that derives from this solution is little when compared with the use of heat for wood chips drying.