Page 40 - Biomass Gasification, Pyrolysis And Torrefaction Practical Design and Theory

Chapter | 1 Introduction 19

iron ore. Figure 5.2 shows a typical beehive oven used in early times to
produce charcoal using the carbonization process. This practice contin-
ued until wood, owing to its overuse, became scarce at the beginning of
the eighteenth century. Fortunately, coal was then discovered and coke
was produced from coal through pyrolysis. This replaced charcoal for
iron extraction.
Gasification was the next major development. Figure 1.7 shows some of
the important milestones in the progression of gasification. Early developments
of gasification were inspired primarily by the need for town gas for street
lighting. Thomas Shirley probably performed the earliest investigation into
gasification in 1659. He experimented with “carbureted hydrogen” (now called
methane). The salient features of town gas from coal were demonstrated to the
British Royal Society in 1733, but the scientists of the time saw no use for it.
In 1798, William Murdoch used coal-gas (also known as town gas) to light
the main building of the Soho Foundry, and in 1802 he presented a public dis-
play of gas lighting astonishing the local population. Friedrich Winzer of
Germany patented coal-gas lighting in 1804 (www.absoluteastronomy.com/
topics/coalgas).
By 1823, numerous towns and cities throughout Britain were gas-lit. At the
time, the cost of gaslight was 75% less than that for oil lamps or candles, and
this helped accelerate its development and deployment. By 1859, gas lighting
had spread throughout Britain. It came to the United States probably in 1816,
with Baltimore being the first city to use it (http://www.bge.com/aboutbge/
pages/history).

1788 1920 1931 1997
Robert Gardner: First Carl von Linde: Lurgi moving First commercial
gasification patent cryogenic separation bed pressurized gasification plant in U.S.
of air, fully continuous process.
gasification process.
1659
Thomas Shirley: 1974
Discovered gas 1801 1926 Arab Oil Embargo
from coal mine Fourcroy: Water- Winkler fluidized- renewed
gas shift reaction. bed gasifier. gasification interest.

1739 1792 1861 1945-1974 2001
Dean Clayton: Murdoc: First use Siemens Gasifier: Post war “Oil Advanced
Distilled coal in a of coal-gas for First successful unit. Glut” gasification biomass
closed vessel interior lighting. renewable energy
projects.
FIGURE 1.7 Historical milestones of gasification development.