Biosketch
Sanalkumar A. P. is a Research Scholar in the School of Chemical and Biotechnology at SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. He received his Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from H.M.S. Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, Karnataka, and his Master of Technology in Machine Design from Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre (NCERC), Pampady, Kerala. He has over seven years of combined industrial and academic experience.
His doctoral research focuses on thermochemical conversion of biomass, particularly biomass gasification, process modelling, kinetic analysis, exergy assessment, and sustainability evaluation for renewable energy applications. His work integrates experimental investigations with Aspen Plus simulation to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of biomass-based energy systems. His research interests include biomass gasification, waste-to-energy technologies, process simulation, sustainable energy systems, and life cycle assessment.
He has published research articles in reputed international journals and has presented his work at national and international conferences. He is committed to advancing sustainable energy technologies and promoting environmentally responsible engineering solutions through research, teaching, and innovation.
Date of Award
21-7-2026
Document Type
Thesis
School
School of Chemical & Biotechnology
Programme
Ph.D.-Doctoral of Philosophy
First Advisor
Dr.V.Ponnusami
Keywords
Gasification, Biomass, Aspen Plus Modelling, Kinetics, Sustainability
Abstract
This thesis investigates the thermochemical conversion of three biomass feedstocks, namely Prosopis juliflora (PJ), Oryza sativa rice husk (RH), and Sesamum indicum stalk residue (SR), through experimental, simulation, and environmental analyses to evaluate their suitability for sustainable energy production. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was conducted under inert conditions at multiple heating rates to study the thermal degradation and kinetic behavior of the biomasses.
Activation energy was evaluated using Kissinger, Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), Friedman, and Coats–Redfern methods. The results indicated that SR exhibited the highest thermal stability, followed by RH and PJ. Experimental gasification studies were carried out in a throatless downdraft gasifier using air as the gasifying agent. Pelletization significantly improved biomass density, gasification stability, cold gas efficiency (CGE), and carbon conversion efficiency (CCE).
Co-gasification studies demonstrated that a 1:1:2 blend of pelletized SR, pelletized RH, and PJ achieved gasification performance comparable to hardwood biomass, thereby reducing dependence on conventional woody feedstocks. An Aspen Plus downdraft gasification model was developed and validated against experimental data, showing good agreement with Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) values ranging from 0.99 to 2.12. The effects of equivalence ratio (ER), steamto- biomass ratio (SB), and different gasifying agents such as air, oxygen-enriched air, and steam were investigated.
Higher PJ content and moderate ER conditions enhanced hydrogen-rich syngas production. Moreover, exergy analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) have been conducted to assess the thermodynamic and environmental sustainability of the tested gasification plants. PJ proved to have the highest value of exergy efficiency and to produce minimum effects on the environment, among the individual biomass feedstock types, whereas the most promising thermodynamic and environmental performance was observed for S1R1P2 among the biomass mixes.
It was shown by LCA analysis that all of the tested biomass-based scenarios had considerably lower environmental burdens than the traditional coal-based one; in particular, the environmental footprint from the processes in the upstream stage was significant. Besides, according to the analysis of avoided burden, a considerable contribution of biomass gasification plants is associated with the prevention of open-field burning of agricultural wastes. Though this study has proven that biomass gasification based on agricultural wastes and invasive wood is capable of delivering considerable benefits from sustainable and decentralized energy production.
Recommended Citation
AP, Sanal Kumar Mr, "Performance Enhancement and Modeling of Thermochemical Conversion of Herbaceous and Hardwood Biomass via Gasification with Integrated Sustainability Evaluation" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 223.
https://knowledgeconnect.sastra.edu/theses/223