Advances of a pilot study on gasification of Saccharum Spontaneum to produce electricity in Panama

¹ Universidad Tecnol ógica de Panamá, Research Director and Professor at Mechanical Engineering Department, Panamá, Panamá. Research Group on Renewable Energy and Environment (GIERA)-UTP
² Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. Mechanical Engineering Department, Panamá, Panamá GIERA Research Group-UTP.

^* Corresponding author: orlando.aguilar@utp.ac.pa

Abstract

Saccharum spontaneum, known locally as “Paja Canalera”, is a non-native herbaceous species of Panamanian flora, it is invasive and can spread rapidly, even in critical environmental conditions. In the dry season, it is the object of fires of plant mass affecting other species of flora, fauna and communities. This study focuses on assessing the use of the species as a biomasic material for energy production through the gasification technique. Samples of the material present in the Panama Canal Hydrographic Basin (CHCP) were conducted, where there are approximately 6,932 hectares covered by that species. A thermophysical and energetic characterization of the species was carried out, and the use of said plant species is considered as a renewable energy resource with the potential to be converted into gaseous fuel (syngas) by means of the gasification technique and its subsequent generation of electrical energy. Based on the available Biomass, results indicate an energy potential of 536.5 GWh. Tests of various treatments were carried out based on the physical properties of the biomass and tested with various volumetric air flows in order to find the most efficient form of gasification of S. spontaneum, based on the chemical composition of the resulting gas.