Experiments were performed in a ben

Experiments were performed in a bench-scale fixed bed, cross-draft gasifier to evaluate the influence of gasification inlet air temperature and feed moisture content on the synthesis gas yields and composition.
From examining the above results and reviewing related literature, the gasification conditions exhibit a significant influence on the products of the process. The apparent effect of inlet air temperature on tar yield could be instrumental in tar reduction investigations, and was a main consideration in the following assessment of process products. The process energy yield expressed in kJ per kg feedstock is highest at the lowest experimental temperature. It is favorable to use high inlet air temperatures and feedstock with moisture content neighboring the 20% range if tar reduction is a factor in consideration, and to use lower inlet air temperatures and drier feedstock if increasing heating value was a primary objective of the gasification process.
The amount of data that was collected was somewhat limited with few replications and a considerable average relative percent difference of -31%, so additional experimentation would be required to fully assess statistical significance of some experimental parameters. Varying other feedstock properties in addition to its moisture content could provide more insight on the effect of these properties on process products.
The experimental apparatus has been successfully shaken down and could be used to investigate different types of gasification processes on other feedstocks with relative accuracy. A potential idea for future work would be to look at scaling the process up in order to conduct pilot testing of a crossdraft gasifier as an affordable waste management process that agrees with the concept of environmental sustainability.