[Stoves] Biomass combustion and Gasification research opportunities

[A.Saravanakumar]

                                                                                                                     17-09-2006

Respected and Dear Sir,


 
It’s an intense pleasure for me to introduce myself as Mr. A. Saravanakumar, writing to enquire whether you have any research position available in your esteemed Institution School of Environment, Resources and Development, Asian Institute of Technology in a multidisciplinary environment where an innovative research scholar with real interpersonal skill would be very much appreciated.

    

I have enclosed herewith my brief resume for your kind perusal. As you will see from my resume, I have submitted my Ph.D thesis on August 2006 in School of Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India. 


 

RESEARCH WORK


 
My research work is on “Some Combustion Related Investigations on Gasifiers” focusing on the innovative attempt in adopting long stick woody biomass as a feed material for biomass gasifier construction. On the basis of the gasifier users with regard to the efforts and energy needed for wood chip preparation in a typical gasifier, we have embarked on the development of a gasifier suitable to work with long stick woody biomass as the feed material to avoid major fuel preparation problems in rural settings.  The design, fabrication and experimentation of gasifier were done using long stick wood.  A 25 m3 per hour capacity updraft was designed and constructed.  Feedstock such as Prosopis, Albizia, Tamarindus and Casuarina of 68 cm x 6 cm having a typical moisture content of 15% have been experimented in the gasifier system and their corresponding gas yields were studied.  The gasifier has also been operated in a batch mode - bottom lit updraft, top lit updraft and cross draft.  For modelling, the flaming pyrolysis time for long stick wood gasifier is calculated to be 2.1 minutes.  The turn down ratio for gasification is around 2. 


 
The construction and experimental study of the pyrolysis of long stick wood to charcoal was done in a partial combustion kiln to understand and upgrade the process.  With the test period of 5 hours, 250 kg of long stick wood is converted into 75 kg of charcoal.  The average conversion ratio of 3:1 means that 3 kg of air-dried fuel wood is burnt to produce 1 kg of charcoal. The temperature profiles 580 - 456°C inside the kiln helps to understand the process of pyrolysis reactions to obtain charcoal in final form. 


 
Currently, I am as Senior Research Fellow, (National Renewable Energy Fellowship Programme sponsored by Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources, Government of India.) working under the guidance of Dr. T. M. Haridasan and the co-guidance of Dr. R. Kasturi Bai, Retired Professors, Department of Bio-Energy, School of Energy Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, India.


 
I came to know that a good research is going on at the School of Environment, Resources and Development. I am very much interested in renewable field of research especially biomass gasification technology, Wind energy and I would like to join your group if you have suitable positions for me. I would like to pursue good science with you. In this connection, I assure you that I will work hard with zeal and commitments and have the ability to analyze and solve problems effectively and independently to complete complex tasks assigned to me. 


 
Awaiting in Anticipation


 
Thanking You


 
Yours sincerely


 

 
[A. Saravanakumar]