Horizontal Biomass Gasifier in Zakho: Computational Guide and Investigation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20535/2521-1943.2025.9.3(106).330530

Keywords:

Biomass Gasifier, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Renewable Energy, Combustion Simulation, Thermal Efficiency, Waste-to-Energy

Abstract

The horizontal biomass gasifier represents a promising and sustainable solution for addressing both the growing energy needs and environmental challenges in Zakho City, Iraq. This study explores the utilization of locally available biomass waste to produce clean, renewable energy through a horizontal burner gasifier system. By converting organic waste into combustible gas, the system offers a practical pathway toward reducing pollution and mitigating the environmental impact of waste accumulation. The primary goal of this research is the development, validation, and optimization of a computational model capable of accurately predicting the thermal and fluid dynamics of a horizontally configured gasifier under local operating conditions. Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in ANSYS Fluent 2024 R2, the study investigates combustion dynamics, temperature distribution, flow behavior, and heat transfer within the gasifier. The model was constructed based on actual geometry, fuel properties, and pressure-driven boundary conditions, ensuring realistic physical representation. A mesh-independence study confirmed numerical stability, while turbulent flow and combustion were modeled using the standard k–ε and eddy-dissipation approaches. Validation against published experimental data demonstrated excellent agreement, with less than 6 % deviation from reported results. Parametric optimization revealed that an air flow rate of 28–32 m³/h yields a maximum temperature of approximately 1450 °C and a thermal efficiency near 91 %, establishing the optimum operational range for this configuration. The horizontal orientation exhibited more uniform temperature gradients and improved mixing compared to vertical systems. This revised investigation not only strengthens the physical and computational understanding of biomass gasification in horizontal systems but also provides a robust modeling foundation for future 3D simulations and experimental validation, supporting broader adoption of biomass-based renewable energy technologies in similar regions.

References

  1. J. Silva, J. Teixeira, S. Teixeira, S. Preziati and J. Cassiano, "CFD Modeling of Combustion in Biomass Furnace", Energy Procedia, vol. 120, pp. 665-672, 2017. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.07.179.
    |
  2. A. Demirbaş, “Biomass resource facilities and biomass conversion processing for fuels and chemicals”, Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 42, no. 11, pp. 1357-1378, 2001. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-8904(00)00137-0.
    |
  3. J. Chaney, H. Liu and J. Li, “An overview of CFD modelling of small-scale fixed-bed biomass pellet boilers with preliminary results from a simplified approach”, Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 63, pp. 149-156, 2012. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2012.01.036.
    |
  4. B. Nath, G. Chen, L. Bowtell and R. A. Mahmood, “CFD Simulation and Experimental Validation of Wheat Straw Pellet Gasification in a 10-kW Fixed Bed Gasifier: Enhanced Syngas Production”, Preprints, 2024. [Preprint]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202401.1475.v1.
  5. M. M. Taher and R. A. Mahmood, “Analysis and Design for a Horizontal Gasifier: Review Paper”, Technium: Romanian Journal of Applied Sciences and Technology, vol. 26, pp. 29-43, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47577/technium.v26i.12186.
  6. R. Scharler and I. Obernberger, "Numerical Modelling of Biomass Grate Furnaces", in Proceedings of the 5th European Conference on Industrial Furnaces and Boilers, Porto, Portugal, 2000.
  7. B. Nath, G. Chen, L. Bowtell and R. A. Mahmood, "Assessment of densified fuel quality parameters: A case study for wheat straw pellet", Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 45-58, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobab.2022.10.001.
    |
  8. B. Rajh, C. Yin, N. Samec, M. Hribersek and F. Kokalj, "CFD modeling and experience of waste-to-energy plant burning waste wood", in Proceedings of the 14th International Waste Management and Landfill Symposium, Cagliari, Italy, 2013.
  9. R. P. van der Lans, L. T. Pedersen, A. Jensen, P. Glarborg and K. Dam-Johansen, “Modelling and experiments of straw combustion in a grate furnace”, Biomass and Bioenergy, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 199-208, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(00)00033-7.
    |
  10. V. K. Gupta and S. K. Badholiya, "CFD Analysis of Horizontal Biomass Gasification Reactor", International Journal of Scientific Research & Engineering Trends, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 144-148, 2024.
  11. P. Basu, "Chapter 3 – Pyrolysis and Torrefaction", in Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis: Practical Design and Theory. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2010, pp. 65-96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374988-8.00003-9.
  12. M. Yang, J. Zhang, S. Zhong, T. Li, T. Løvås, H. Fatehi and X.-S. Bai, “CFD modeling of biomass combustion and gasification in fluidized bed reactors using a distribution kernel method”, Combustion and Flame, vol. 236, p. 111744, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2021.111744.
    |
  13. P. Basu, "Chapter 5 - Gasification Theory and Modeling of Gasifiers", in Biomass Gasification and Pyrolysis: Practical Design and Theory. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2010, pp. 117-165. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-374988-8.00005-2.
  14. R. A. Mahmood, D. Buttsworth, R. Malpress and A. Sharifian-Barforoush, “CFD numerical and experimental investigation of two-phase flow development after an expansion device in a horizontal pipe”, Journal of Thermal Engineering, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 307-323, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18186/thermal.850672.
    |
  15. X. Liu, W. Xu, Y. Pan and E. Du, “Liu et al. suspect that Zhu et al. (2015) may have underestimated dissolved organic nitrogen (N) but overestimated total particulate N in wet deposition in China”, Science of the Total Environment, vol. 520, pp. 300-301, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.004.
    | |
  16. H. Liu, R. J. Cattolica, R. Seiser and C.-h. Liao, “Three-dimensional full-loop simulation of a dual fluidized-bed biomass gasifier”, Applied Energy, vol. 160, pp. 489-501, 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.09.065.
    |
  17. I. B. Celik, U. Ghia, P. J. Roache, C. J. Freitas, H. Coloman and P. E. Raad, “Procedure for Estimation and Reporting of Uncertainty Due to Discretization in CFD Applications”, Journal of Fluids Engineering, vol. 130, no. 7, p. 078001, 2008. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2960953.
    |
  18. J. K. A. T. Rajika and M. Narayana, “Modelling and simulation of wood chip combustion in a hot air generator system”, SpringerPlus, vol. 5, no. 1, p. 1166, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40064-016-2817-x.
    | |
  19. A. Kulkarni, G. Mishra, S. Palla, P. Ramesh, D. V. Surya and T. Basak, “Advances in Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for Biomass Pyrolysis: A Review”, Energies, vol. 16, no. 23, p. 7839, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16237839.
  20. J. E. Matsson, An Introduction to Ansys Fluent 2024. Mission, KS: SDC Publications, 2024, 864 p.
  21. G. García-Sánchez, J. Chacón-Velasco, D. Fuentes-Díaz, J. Jaramillo-Ibarra and J. Martínez-Morales, “CFD modelling of biomass boilers - a review of the state of the art”, Respuestas, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 262-273, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22463/0122820X.2462.
  22. F. Neves, A. A. Soares and A. Rouboa, “Numerical Study of Biomass Combustion Using a Transient State Approach”, Processes, vol. 12, no. 12, p. 2800, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12122800.
  23. N. Kantová, J. Jandačka, S. Sładek, M. Holubčík and J. Trnka, "Biomass combustion simulation by using the eddy dissipation concept model", in AIP Conference Proceedings, Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia, 2019, vol. 2118, no. 1, p. 030021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5114749.
    |
  24. H. K. Versteeg and W. Malalasekera, An Introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics: The Finite Volume Method, 2nd ed. Harlow, England: Pearson Education, 2007, 503 p.
  25. U. Kumar and M. C. Paul, “CFD modelling of biomass gasification with a volatile break-up approach”, Chemical Engineering Science, vol. 195, pp. 413-422, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.09.038.
    |

Downloads

Published

2025-09-26

How to Cite

[1]
M. Taher and R. Mahmood, “Horizontal Biomass Gasifier in Zakho: Computational Guide and Investigation”, Mech. Adv. Technol., vol. 9, no. 3(106), pp. 342–350, Sep. 2025.

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 3(106) (2025)

Section

Advanced Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Mayaf Taher

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The ownership of copyright remains with the Authors.
 
Authors may use their own material in other publications provided that the Journal is acknowledged as the original place of publication and National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” as the Publisher.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

  1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under CC BY 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

  2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

  3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work