Gasification is a process that converts low-value carbon-containing materials into high-value products, namely gas that can be converted into energy. Common carbonaceous materials used for conversion are coal, biomass, and petroleum coke.
The gasification process has 3 steps:
Carbonaceous materials are heated in the absence of oxygen, and the weight of these materials is decreased by up to 70%. Char and volatile byproducts are produced.
The char and volatile products interact with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. This generates heat that is used for the final step.
The char and the carbon monoxide mix with the heat vapor (produced during combustion) and produce additional carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This resulting gas is called syngas (short for synthesis gas) and can efficiently be converted to energy.