A benchtop laboratory scale thermal conversion rig has been designed and built at Cardiff University (by Adrian Gibbs) for the purposes of investigation into gasification. It is designed for ease of control, access and potential modification. It is intended for use for the thermal conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW) although with this versatile process there is scope for adaptation to other fuels.

The rig is rated at up to 5 kW and will operate at between 680°C and 820°C at a dry gasification rate of 36 g/m2s and equivalence ratio of 0.26. Gas monitoring for this system is discussed and the rig has been certified suitable for subsequent experimentation.

March 2002 - Adrian Gibbs wins the South Wales Institute of Engineers, David Douglas Award 2002 papers competition. The paper was entitled 'Background to the need for and current state of municipal waste gasification technology. Design of a small scale gasifier for investigation into the effects of fuel variations'. Further details are available by contacting the waste research team at question@wasteresearch.co.uk