Doctoral Thesis “Wood chips gasification for syngas production” author Vladimirs Kirsanovs is a student of Riga Technical University, Institute of Energy Systems and Environment. Scientific supervisor is professor Claudio Rochas, Dr. sc. ing. The Doctoral Thesis is in Latvian language. It consists of an introduction, four chapters, conclusion, 66 figures, 19 tables, the total number of pages is 133. The Bibliography contains 156 titles. The aim of this Doctoral Thesis is to investigate syngas production possibilities from biomass gasification, using local renewable source wood chips as fuel. The following objectives were set in order to achieve this goal: • to develop a thermodynamic mathematical model of the gasification process; • to determine influences of fuel moisture and air equivalence ratio on gasification process using the developed mathematical model; • experimental investigation of the gasification process in an industrial facility determining the possibilities of drying wood chips using physical heat obtained during syngas cooling process; • mathematical model validation using experimental research results; • to analyze possible optimization of gasification system by dividing the supplied air into primary and secondary air; • use the developed mathematical model to research syngas production from other local biomass resources. Structure of the thesis. Introduction part includes novelty and topicality of research. Aim and tasks of the work, as well as practical use of this thesis are presented in the introduction. First chapter summarizes the findings of literature review about gasification process. The possible benefits from gasification technology are given within the context of Latvia’s energy sector. Syngas production possibilities were investigated considering locally available renewable energy resources. Factors having dominant effect on gasification process were determined and analysed to find optimal operational parameters for experimental system. The influences of gasification temperature, equivalence ration and fuel moisture were examined in detail. Formation of by-products tar and char were analysed. Second chapter presents describes the developed mathematical model of the gasification process. Model was based on thermodynamics equations of the gasification process. Model describes gasification process in downdraft gasifiers which use air as gasification agent. Equivalence ratio and fuel moisture impacts on gasification and syngas quality were determined using developed model. The third chapter presents practical experiment results. Experimental research was done on an industrial gasifier. Technological solution and research methods are explained. Detailed description of each element of industrial gasifier system is given. Experiment plan and calculations of process mass and energy balance are included. The fourth chapter present analysis of results. Results of experimental research about impacts of injected air preheating, fuel moisture content and gasifier thermal capacity on the gasification process are given and analysed. Validation of the developed mathematical model was done using data from gasification process experimental research. Data analysis was done and regression equations describing gasification performance depending on selected variable parameters were found. Results from gasification system optimization focusing on air supply division into primary and secondary air are presented. Possibilities of using locally available non-wood biomass for syngas production were investigated using the developed mathematical model of gasification process.