Development of a Biomass Downdraft Gasifier for Oil Palm Fronds

Being one of the largest oil palm producers in the world, Malaysia produces large amounts of oil palm leaves and fronds as biomass waste each year. Currently the waste is not being well managed and is disposed in controlled manner. Recent interest in palm oil empty fruit bunch (EFB) as an alternative energy source has caused a further interest in the usage of oil palm fronds (OPF) as biomass fuel feedstock. Even though that there have been many studies involving other oil palm parts, very little attention has been given for OPF. So far OPF has only been used as natural fertilizer and as domestic animal food stock. Very little reference on OPF is also a challenge in understanding the OPF thoroughly as a possible candidate for biomass energy source. This study is currently the first of its kind to be done in Malaysia. The objective of the present study is to investigate the suitability of OPF as fuel material for biomass gasifier to produce flammable synthesis gas by means of gasification, a method to convert energy embedded in the biomass by thermal degradation process to produce combustible gas that can be utilized as fuel in internal combustion engines. The study is performed by testing the OPF in a newly designed gasifier to study its burning pattern, thermal properties, burning capabilities, and the synthesis gas that the gasifier produces, with a side target for improvisations on the gasifier performance.