Gasification Technologies and Their Energy Potentials

Abstract Energy densified gaseous fuels (i.e., syngas, producer gas, product gas, synthetic gas, or synthesis gas) obtained from raw solid fuel are generally more efficient, versatile, and easily controllable than the raw solid fuel, and the used combustion units are simpler. Gasification technologies, therefore, attract significant attention all over the world. This chapter gives an up-to-date knowledge of gasification technologies and their energy potentials. After the thermochemical technologies, i.e., liquefaction, carbonization, combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification, are introduced, biomass gasification technologies are detailed, and these include air gasification, oxygen gasification, steam gasification, hydrogen gasification, carbon dioxide gasification, and combined gasification. Energy potentials of these gasification technologies are then discussed by presenting the cold gasification efficiencies. Some conclusions and future outlook regarding the gasification technologies are also presented.