Journal of 3D Printing, Additive Manufacturing and Applications
Optimum Design and Parameterization of Downdraft Gasifier: A Multiple Input and Single Output Strategy
Abstract
Onep Samuel George, Stephen Ndubuisi Nnamchi and Dennison Selvam Milon
This paper considers optimum design and parameterization of downdraft gasifier as a sure way to improve its performance, besides, improving the quality of biomass feedstock. The poor performance of gasifiers and gasification could be attributed to a lack of appropriate system optimization. Thus, this paper employs a multiple input single output (MISO) strategy to achieve optimum design of variables and functions by assembling and coupling design functions to a single unconstrained objective function, which yields the optimum design variables and functions. Additionally, the downdraft gasifier’s design optimization and parameterization produced auxiliary optimal design variables and functions as well as an optimal system efficiency of 53%. MISO is a viable optimization strategy for upgrading single input single output (SISO) designs to an optimum design for improved system performance. Although gasifier height affected the optimality of other design variables and functions, it should not be considered a design function since it negated optimization and parameterization. It is therefore advised that the designer fix it.