RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR RURAL INDIA - TABLE TOP GASIFICATION M.S.Balachandar1 G.Sethu Prasanna1 1 Final Year B.

E Students Department of Mechanical Engineering. Amrita Institute of Technology, Coimbatore- 641105 Msbala84@yahoo.co.in sethu_ganesan84@yahoo.co.in ABSTRACT: Energy is an essential ingredient for human existence and is a major driving force for development. The natural resource such as coal, oil, natural gas etc are fast depleting leading to a serious energy crisis. A recent estimate says that the need for energy is increasing at rate of 2% per annum. The increase in the oil need and the unabated pollution levels saw the shift of global focus from non-renewable to renewable sources of energy.The main reason in using renewable energy source is, it converts waste to wealth. It is further amplified by the latest trend in customers -demanding environment friendly products. So developing and deploying innovative environmental and eco-friendly technologies is a must in order to become productive and efficient. The idea being infused here is to shape, drive and trigger real commitment to the environment and sustainability The Gasifier. Gasifier -It is an energy system which completely turns the waste products to producer gas which is then easy to burn efficiently with low emmision. Normally primary combustion release large amount unburnt combustable gases which have almost 60% of the potential heat. So there is a need in introducing secondary air at high temperature to burn the secondary gas and there by increasing the overall combustion efficiency of the gasifier. The design parameters for gasifier were optimized and fabricated a table top gasifier. This can use the day today waste from house hold applications for generating useful energy. Our design mainly consists of three components, an outer chamber delivering air for gasification, an inner gasification chamber, and a blower unit to produce forced draft. Our product can compete with electric stoves in producing 1.5-3 KW heat with minimal emission and saving electric energy. This paper deals with calculation for gasifier design, fabrication, and flow analysis for optimizing the forced draft.

Key words: Energy crisis, Renewable energy, Environment friendly products, Table top gasifier.

1.INTRODUCTION Main advantage in using Gasifier is, it mainly shoots three different troubles, they are Maximum utilization of renewable energy sources, which is abodunt in India. Reduces the emition of carbon monoxide, which is the cause for many breathing disease in rural areas. Increases the efficiency of the stove by burning the CO, which contains lot of the potential heat. The main advantage of using renewable energy source (biomass) is zero pollution.In the wake of carbon trading, renewable energy sources become much more economical and promising. It is further amplified by the latest trend in customers- demanding environment friendly products. 2.BIOMASS Biomass is a form of stored solar energy (i.e. obtained by converting sun light into cellulose by the process of photosynthesis). India has a rich source of biomass estimated more than 540 million tonnes of crop and plantation residues every year. A large portion of the crop residue and other bio mass is used inefficiently or just burned in the open fields. The percentage of each type of waste is shown in the figure. A rough estimate says by harnessing this surplus material will result in the availability of 25000 Mw of distributed power. By use of this table top gasifier , day today waste can be effectively used. By this the energy which is wasted to a larger extent can be retrived to a smaller extent atleast.

3.GASIFICATOIN Gasification is a controlled combution wherein biomass is thermally decomposed into producer gas at high temperature and limited supply of oxygen. Basically burning of wood takes place at three different stages. By the end of the first stage the volatile and moisture content of the wood are burnt. At the end of second stage of combustion lot of gases are released which mostly comprises of carbon monooxide and other combustable gases which is the 60% of the total potential heat of the wood. The conditions to burn this secondary gases are sufficient oxygen and temperature of at least 1100F needed. This air supply is critical. Too little of air will not support combustion and too much will cool the temperature to a point where combustion cannot occur. So a optimum amount of air supply is to be given to enable the secondary combustion. Combustion of this secondary gases forms the basis of the gasifier. So carefull design of the combustion chamber is a must in order to achive maximum efficiency. As mentioned earlier the Gasifier proposed here has mainly three different parts outer chamber, inner combustion chamber, and drafting unit. The another most important thing which is to be concidered for deigning is the insulation. This insulation is must because we need to sustain high temperature for this secondary combustion and so the heat lost to the surrounding is to be arrested. The dimention calculation for each part is done and the optimum design for gasifier is proposed.

4.DESIGN CALCULATION FOR TABLE TOP GASIFIER a) CALCULATION FOR GRATE AREA Calorific value of wood =15000 KJ/kg Calorific value of coal =30000 KJ/kg Calorific value of producer gas =4200 KJ/kg Let amount of wood required to produce a 3KW power be Ym3/s Then 3KW = Calorific value of producer gas *Ym3/s 3KW =15000*Y Y=2*10-4kg/s Wood requried=2*10-4kg/s Assume brake thermal efficiency as 20% Y =(2/0.2)*10-4 kg/s Y = 1*10-3 kg/s Wood requried per hour =3.6 kg/hr The specific rate of gasification is knownto be 400 kg/m2/hr When 400kg of wood is gasified per m2/hr Then 3.6 kg =(1/400)*3.6= 9*10-3m2 Area required to gasify 3.6kg of wood = 9*10-3m2
Diameter of the grate = 0.107 m

b) CALCULATION FOR COMBUSTION CHAMBER The average bulk density of wood = 300 kg/m3 The amount of wood required 1hour =3.6 kg Volume required for holding 3.6 kg of is, 300 kg in 1 m3 Take height = 0.4 m r2 h = 3.6/300 = 0.012 m3
Diameter of the chamber (2r) =0.195 m