TEST PROCEDURES FOR GASIFIER SYSTEMS

Biomass stands out as a promising resource of renewable energy having undebatable potential of supplementing the energy needs of the country in the foreseeable future. Gasification is an important intermediate step towards utilisation of biomass in most power generation and thermal applications. With continued support from Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) over the past 15 years, gasification technology has gone through phenomenal development and is almost on the threshold of commercialisation. MNES is not only committed to promote this technology and make a measurable impact on the energy needs of the country, but is also keen to ensure that the gasification systems produced in India are efficient, reliable and are of world class standards.

As a step towards realising these goals, "Test Facilities for Performance Evaluation of Gasifiers and Gasifier-Engine Systems" were established at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Bombay in 1985, under a project sponsored by the then called Department of Non-conventional Energy Sources. The objectives of the project included formulation of acceptable performance levels and laying down procedures and methodology for testing & performance evaluation of the gasifier and gasifier-engine systems.

The first ever draft of the "Test Procedures and Methodology for Testing and Performance Evaluation of Gasifiers and Gasifier-engine Systems" was prepared under the project. The main focus of the Program at that time was development of biomass gasifier systems and utilisation of producer-gas in Dual-fuel operation of existing diesel engines in power capacity range up to 100 kW. Thermal applications were few and were severely constrained by the reservations about toxic effects of Carbon-monoxide (CO). The first draft of the testing procedures, therefore, did not deal with Thermal systems. Procedures and standards for Spark Ignition Producer Gas Engines (SIPGE) were also not covered.

The development of technology and growth of manufacturing activities now warranted a re-look into the existing Test Procedures and to extend their scope to include the new areas such as SIPGE, thermal applications, turbo-charged engines, rice-husk gasifiers etc.. Consequently, a Sub-Committee was constituted to examine and modify the prevailing procedures and to formulate additional ones for the expanded requirements.

The revised Test Procedures reflect the concern of Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Technology Developers, Manufacturers and Users for establishing the credibility of the systems and accelerating the commercialisation of biomass gasification technology.

Test Procedures for gasifiers coupled to three different end-uses are covered in the following three separate documents: