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Simulations and experimental study to compare the behavior of a genset running on gasoline or syngas for small scale power generation

Abstract:

Syngas produced from small-scale biomass gasification plants (tens of kW) can generate power from biomass resources. However, due to the syngas gensets demand is marginal, compared to gasoline gensets, it is not easy to find a genset specially designed to run on syngas. In this paper, an experimental study of a genset running on two kinds of fuel has been carried out. The genset used is a 10 kW ICE initially designed to run on gasoline, in parallel, simulations based on CHEMKIN-PRO software were made. The study focuses on the comparison of the ICE operation independently working on gasoline and syngas. Modifications were required in the genset to adapt the intake system to run on syngas. The syngas is obtained from a gasifier. According to the test, it is possible to convert a gasoline engine to a 100% syngas engine through straightforward modifications in the inlet manifold but reducing the efficiency and power. The electrical power running the genset on gasoline was 6.7 kW, whereas, with syngas, it is 4.8 kW (31.4% of reduction). The efficiency running the ICE on gasoline was 13.7% at its rated power, whereas for the genset fuelled on syngas, it was 10.5% (23.4% reduction).