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Student Projects
Contact Information
University: Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín- Colombia
Team Members(s):
Frank Alexander Ruiz Holguín. Electronic Engineer.
Yuhan Arley Lenis Rodas. Mechanical Engineer.
Juan Fernando Pérez Bayer. Mechanical Engineer. PhD
Thermal Machines Laboratory- Group Efficient Management for Energy - GIMEL-
Faculty: Engineering
Tels: (57)(4) 2198547 – 2198549 – 3152763244
Email Address:farh40@yahoo.com , juanpb@udea.edu.co, yuhan.lenis@gmail.com
Project information
Title: KAPOK: EVALUATION OF ENERGY POTENTIAL OF THE MAIN FOREST SPECIES IN COLOMBIA
Description:
Software designed for monitoring, data acquisition and processing of evidence obtained in gasification process and characterization of solid fuels.
Products:
- Software LabView 8.5
- Data acquisition card NI-USB6210
Figure. Hardware and software images
The challenge
Characterize the gasification process of the main forest species of greatest energy potential in Colombia, to determine the viability to develop energy programs generation with biomass in the country,and to investigate the effect of the type of biomass and its physical-chemical properties in the characteristic parameters of the thermo chemical process.
The solution
We designed, developed and implemented a complete system of instrumentation and monitoring using LabView. The experimental installation (see Figure 1) in addition to providing the characterization service of solid fuels, allow developing studios to gasification and combustion process. The study was performed in a co-current fixed bed gasifier to laboratory scale. To characterize the process, the system monitors and acquires temperature and flow data that alert the state of gasification of biomass at all times of testing and real-time.
Figure 1. Mounting the experimental installation
Introduction
In an effort to associate the software developed in LabView, with the ecological sense that move the GIMEL group to study the biomass, this application has been named Kapok, name with whom he also often is called to the Ceiba pentandra, a of the most recognized species in the tropics zones of both hemispheres, more for its cultural value that by the very usefulness of its wood, the Kapok tree has since pre-Columbian times a mystical significance and a historic value for different cultures the countries of Central and South America and some parts of Africa and Asia. This project enable the solid fuels characterization and allow to develop studies of gasification process and biomass combustion,considering the conversion process of wood in gas in a downdraft reactor (seeFigure 2) to determine the feasibility to develop programs clean energy generation with biomass in the country, energy produced in an efficient andaffordable for the community to favor the non-interconnected electrically speaking areas of our territory.
Figure 2. Co-current fixed bed gasifier to laboratory scale (downdraft)
Application Description
The developed application uses a data acquisition card from National Instruments and LabView program; it can process the acquired data during the gasification process and report the interest results for a further analysis. They receive signals from three flow sensors arranged in the flowlines of both gasifying agents and the sample for chromatographic analysis and the signals of thermocouples arranged along the gasifier. Thus, you can register with Kapok the thermochemical properties of solid fuels, temperatures and flows capture and calculate the results of each experiment. The figure 3,shows the block diagram of the overall scheme of the experimental facility developed.
Figure 3. Block diagram of experimental installation
User Interface
Initially the user enters the generalities and the thermochemical properties of solid fuel.Then the algorithm validates the entered values, warns if required to correct some field and offers the possibility of automatic correction for the analysis fields. Once completed the properties entry stage, the user must enter into thetesting space. In case of failure to create a path for saving test data, awarning appears in the screen and then a window for selecting path that will allow to save of experimentation files. When the program has registered the path where the tests are saved, the icon will enable the initiation of testing and data acquisition. When the experiment is over, the process results will bestore in an Excel spreadsheet for further analysis. The Figure 4, shows the tab "properties ", space that will begin each experiment. At this stage the user can: Select name and family of the species when it comes from lignocellulosic biomass, elemental analysis, proximate analysis, atmospherics properties and test conditions.
Figure 4. Tab properties– Kapok® software
When you finish entering the properties of solid fuel and the test, the user can enter to the second tab, titled "Tests ",which shows the temperature and flow fields as shown in Figure 5. In this space the user must remain during the experiment.
Figure 5. Tab Tests – Kapok® software
Figure 6. Buttons on the user interface
The Figure 7, show the application that allows you to communicate remotely with a PC that is connected to a network wirelessly usingWiFi technology. You can also see the application that allows the remote user to monitor the status of a running test.
Figure7. Interface with wireless remote monitoring
Conclusions
- The experimental tests showed similar values to those obtained in theliterature with calorific power for poor gas between 2.6 - 3.0 MJ/Nm3 these values are obtained due to transient conditions of the test, generating high heat losses. However, empirical information is very useful for design of reactors.
- The cold performance of the process varies between 26 and 31% with fuel conversion efficiency between 51.2 and 89.6 wt% (by weight). The species withhigher production and higher yields combustible gases are Eucalyptus grandisand pines (maximinoi and patula). In general, the best characteristic parameters of the gasification process are presented with higher wood bulkdensity, higher calorific power value and lower moisture content.
- LabView is software that allows the data acquisition and monitoring real-time signal, through of virtual instruments to facilitate to development academic applications of engineering.
