Comprehensive effects of different inorganic elements on initial biomass char-CO2 gasification reactivity in micro fluidised bed reactor: Theoretical modeling and experiment analysis

In this study, a theoretical model of biomass char gasification reactivity was developed, focusing on the catalytic effect of inorganic elements on the char gasification process. A comparison with previous research results shows that the catalytic ability of K in a fixed bed reactor is stronger than that of Ca, while the catalytic ability of Ca in a fluidised bed reactor is stronger than that of K. The migration and transformation of K and Ca in a fixed bed reactor and fluidised bed reactor are compared. In the fluidised bed reactor, a larger proportion of Ca is transformed into an ion-exchanged state than K, which is contrary to the experimental results in the fixed bed reactor. Then, according to the equivalent-volumetric impregnation method, the saturated loading ratio of K was determined to be 35%, and the full catalytic ratio of K was determined experimentally. Finally, eight typical biomass char samples were selected to perform experiments at different temperatures in the micro fluidised bed reactor to determine the char gasification reactivity, and the results were compared with the calculated values of the model. Results show that the model can effectively predict the char gasification reactivity both in trend and accuracy. [Display omitted] •Migration and transformation of K and Ca during pyrolysis process were clarified.•The catalytic ability of inorganic elements in fluidised bed reactor was quantified.•The order of catalytic ability in the fluidised bed reactor is Ca > K > Na > Fe > Mg.•The model considers catalytic/inhibitory effects of seven main inorganic elements.•The self-developed char reactivity model is suitable for the fluidised bed reactor.