Characterization of the syngas from the gasification of the biomass in fluidized bed

DRIVE is a research laboratory of the University of Burgundy (uB). Housed in the premises of the ISAT (Institut Supérieur de l'Automobile et des Transports) in Nevers, DRIVE develops these research activities on the optimization of energy systems, intelligent systems as well as the mechanics of materials and structures.

The utilization of biomass for hydrogen production has emerged as a promising and increasingly important approach in recent years. The valorization of available biomass and other combustible waste for hydrogen production positions it as a pivotal element in the ongoing energy transition.
Gasification plays a crucial role in converting biomass into H2-rich syngas production. While extensively studied in the literature and applied in various industries (pharmaceuticals, food, hydrocarbons, energy, power, etc.), its use for hydrogen production presents unique challenges. In the current stage of the project, the focus is on investigating the thermo-aerodynamic aspects of gasification for fluidized bed systems.
The primary objective of the internship is to develop a process for producing H2-rich syngas through biomass gasification in a fluidized bed. This involves creating a numerical Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model tailored specifically for fluidized beds and other associated equipment, encompassing the geometry of all components. Importantly, the hydrodynamic and fluid dynamics of the fluidized bed (for fluidsised material such as sand and biomass) will be analyzed for both steam and air, contributing to the development of an experimental fluidized bed gasification system used to validate the results predicted by the model. The impact of process parameters will be thoroughly studied.
The work commences with an extensive literature survey on biomass gasification by fluidized beds, exploring various approaches, including Eulerian-Lagrangian models and chemical kinetics. Simultaneously, the intern will conduct numerical simulations (CFD) to optimize the size of a fluidized bed for hydrogen production from biomass.
The internship will specifically focus on the syngas generated during gasification, aiming to validate the efficiency of the fluidized bed process in comparison to alternative methods.
Possibility to start in internship of M2 and to continue in thesis.

Master 2/ Engineer