Abstract

Biomass can be considered one of the most important sources of energy in the world, because it is: renewable; neutral in terms of green-house gases emissions; capable of replacing conventional fossil fuels, among other factors. On the other hand, gasification is an efficient process of turning available the chemical energy of biomass, with a relatively simple technology. In the present work a co-current open top downdraft gasifier is used, with an 8.5 kW thermal power capacity to fuel an 18 Hp Otto cycle engine coupled to an electric generator. With this apparatus, it was possible to analyze the influence of some properties of the fuel wood particles (size, density, moisture content and so on) on the efficiency of the energy conversion process.