Syngas Production from Sago Palm Bark Waste Using a TLUD Gasifier: Effect of Biomass Type and Equivalence Ratio on Gas Composition and Energy Yield

¹ Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering Department, University of Indonesia, Depok 16424, Indonesia
² Research Center for Energy Conversion & Conservation, National Research and Innovation Agency
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cenderawasih University Jayapura, Papua Indonesia
⁴ PT PLN (Perser) Research Institute, Jakarta, Indonesia.

^* Corresponding author: benny.susanto@ui.ac.id

Abstract

Indonesia, as the world’s largest producer of sago, generates significant amounts of biomass waste, particularly from the sago palm trunk, which remains underutilized. This study investigates the potential of converting the outer bark and middle bark of sago palm into syngas using a Top-Lit Updraft (TLUD) gasification reactor. The objective is to evaluate the effect of equivalence ratio (ER), biomass composition, and particle size on syngas yield and quality, with a focus on key gas components such as H₂, CO, CH₄, and the lower heating value (LHV). Thermochemical characterization was conducted using TULD gasifier, while syngas composition was analyzed through gas chromatography. The results indicate that the outer bark produced syngas with the highest LHV due to its higher content of energy-rich gases. Moreover, the optimal ER for achieving peak LHV was found to be approximately 0.30, beyond which gas quality began to decline. These findings suggest that proper selection of biomass type and ER is critical for maximizing syngas performance and promoting the use of sago bark waste as a viable renewable energy source, contributing to sustainable energy development and waste reduction in Indonesia.