Abstract
Gas‐fired and coal based power generation plants result in the emission of CO2, a major greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. On an average, the flue from such power plants contain approximately 12– 17 vol.% CO2, 75 – 77 vol.% N2 and ~ 4.4 vol.% O2 with fractions of CO, NOx, H2 and SO2 in ppm range. While the capture and storage of this CO2 stream have been addressed actively in the literature, or even implemented rather unsustainably, its application in the fuel making process is imperceptibly addressed. This work examines the thermochemical biomass conversion with air and CO2 as gasification media to explore the possibilities and limitations of CO2 capture and its application in the fuel making process by the employment of the Boudouard reaction in the high temperature char zone to yield carbon monoxide. While this study revolves around the direct use of CO2 from the flue of diesel engines. The experimental investigations are based on the configuration of a downdraft reactor utilizing dried biomass pellets as feedstock. The mass flow rates of air and CO2 are measured and controlled using calibrated mass flow controllers and the biomass consumption rate is measured by placing the reactor over a digital weighing balance. A complete carbon balance is implemented in order to analyse the rate of formation of char under various conditions. This work demonstrates a mode of effective utilization of CO2 from the flue of exhaust gases in the power generation process that can even be integrated with a bio‐refinery plant.