A study on in-bed material catalytic reforming of tar/CH4 has been performed in the 150 kWallothermal
gasifier at Mid Sweden University (MIUN). The major challenge in biomass fluidised-bed gasification to
produce high-quality syngas, is the reforming of tars and CH4. The MIUN gasifier has a unique design
suitable for in-bed tar/CH4 catalytic reforming and continuously internal regeneration of the reactive bed
material. This paper evaluates the catalytic effects of olivine and Fe-impregnated olivine (10%wtFe/
olivine Catalyst) with reference to silica sand in the MIUN dual fluidised bed (DFB) gasifier. Furthermore,
a comparative experimental test is carried out with the same operation condition and bed-materials
when the gasifier is operated in the mode of single bubbling fluidised bed (BFB), in order to detect
the internal regeneration of the catalytic bed materials in the DFB operation. The behaviour of catalytic
and non-catalytic bed materials differs when they are used in the DFB and the BFB. Fe/olivine and olivine
in the BFB mode give lower tar and CH4 content together with higher H2 þ CO concentration, and higher
H2/CO ratio, compared to DFB mode. It is hard to show a clear advantage of Fe/olivine over olivine
regarding tar/CH4 catalytic reforming.