Comparative downdraft gasification performance using falcata wood pellets and chips

Abstract Tropical off-grid regions are rich in biomass resources like Falcata, a fast-growing tree species. This study examines the optimal form of Falcata wood, comparing pellets (FWP) and chips (FWC) for community-based gasification systems using a downdraft gasifier. Key methods included feedstock uniformity assessment, syngas composition analysis, and efficiency calculations. Results showed FWP provided better uniformity and consistent feeding, while FWC may need further processing for improved efficiency. FWC had a higher heating value (17.92 MJ/kg) and volatile matter (84.29%) than FWP, which had more fixed carbon (18.20%) but also higher ash content (1.98%). FWP produced syngas with higher CO and H 2 concentrations, leading to better overall syngas quality, while FWC yielded more non-combustible CO 2 . Energy Conversion Efficiency (ECE) and Gas Efficiency (GE) indicated that FWP is four times more effective and twice as efficient for gasification compared to FWC. The study concludes that both forms can produce high-quality syngas, but further research is needed to assess the economic viability and optimize gasification parameters for improved efficiency.