Anamika Kushwah
Postgraduate Research Student
About
My research project
Studying interactions between the catalytic upgrading of biomethane and fuel cells to obtain optimal flowsheetsIt includes advanced energy conversion and in the next generation of SOFC (solid oxidised fuel cell) for green electricity production. Furthermore, it also includes modelling and simulation work involves studying and researching a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and biofuel energy production system including gasification and Fischer-Tropsch catalysis from biomass using a combination of advanced optimisation modelling techniques and experimental work.
It includes advanced energy conversion and in the next generation of SOFC (solid oxidised fuel cell) for green electricity production. Furthermore, it also includes modelling and simulation work involves studying and researching a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and biofuel energy production system including gasification and Fischer-Tropsch catalysis from biomass using a combination of advanced optimisation modelling techniques and experimental work.
Publications
A. Kushwah,T.R. Reina, M. Short (2021) Modelling approaches for biomass gasifiers: A comprehensive overview
Biomass resources have the potential to become a viable renewable technology and play a key role within the future renewable energy paradigm. Since CO2 generated in bio-energy production is equal to the CO2 absorbed during the growth of the biomass, this renewable energy is a net zero emissions resource. Biomass gasification is a versatile method for transforming waste into energy in which biomass material is thermochemically converted within a reactor. Gasification's superior flexibility, including both in terms of biomass type and heat generation or energy production alternatives, is what stimulates biomass gasification scientific and industrial potential. Downdraft gasifiers seem to be well-suited for small-scale generation of heat along with energy, whereas fluidised bed and entrained flow gasifiers currently attain significant economies of scale for fuel production. The operation of gasifiers is influenced by several factors, including operational parameters, feedstock types, and reactor design. Modelling is a valuable tool for building a unit based on the results of model predictions with different operational parameters and feedstock in such scenarios. Once verified, a suitable model may be used to assess the sensitivity of a gasifier's performance to changes in various operational and design factors. Effective models may help designers to theorise and predict the impacts of a variety of characteristics without the need for further empirical observations, which can help in the design and implementation of this technology. This work provides an overview of gasification technologies and a succinct guidance to the modelling decisions and modelling strategies for biomass gasification to enable a successful biomass to fuel conversion. A technical description and critical analysis of thermodynamic, kinetic, computational fluid dynamic and data-driven approaches is provided, including crucial modelling considerations that have not been explored in earlier studies. The review aims to aid researchers in the field to select the appropriate approach and guide future work.