Experimental Parameter Study on Synthesis Gas Production by Steam-Oxygen Fluidized Bed Gasification of Sewage Sludge

The conversion of biogenic residues to fuels and chemicals via gasification and synthesis processes is a promising pathway to replace fossil carbon. In this study, the focus is set on sewage sludge gasification for syngas production. Experiments were carried out in a 20 kW fuel input bubbling fluidized bed facility with steam and oxygen as gasification agent. In-situ produced sewage sludge ash was used as bed material. The sensitivity of the key operation parameters gasifier temperature, oxygen ratio, steam to carbon ratio, and the space velocity on the syngas composition (H₂, CO, CO₂, CH₄, C_xH_y, H₂S, COS, NH₃, and tars) was determined. The results show that the produced syngas has high H₂ and CO concentrations of up to 0.37 m³ m⁻³ and 0.18 m³ m⁻³, respectively, and is thus suitable for synthesis of fuels and chemicals. By adjusting the steam to carbon ratio, the syngas’ H₂ to CO ratio can be purposely tailored by the water gas shift reaction for various synthesis products, e.g., synthetic natural gas (H₂/CO = 3) or Fischer–Tropsch products (H₂/CO = 2). Also, the composition and yields of fly ash and bed ash are presented. Through the gasification process, the cadmium and mercury contents of the bed ash were drastically reduced. The ash is suitable as secondary raw material for phosphorous or phosphate fertilizer production. Overall, a broad database was generated that can be used for process simulation and process design.