Biomass Fast Pyrolysis

Abstract

<p>Biomass is becoming an increasingly important alternative resource of energy supply. Bioenergy can replace the fossil fuels for a lot of reasons, such as economics, renewability, and fewer greenhouse gases. In this study, a mathematical model for the reactions in fast pyrolysis of a single biomass particle is simulated (Heindel, Xue and Fox, 2011). The solid biomass particle is assumed to consist of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin, and these are converted by rapid heating into active components and then eventually into tar and gas (Heindel, Xue and Fox, 2011). Using existing values for the reaction rates and assuming a constant temperature, the evolution equations for the mass fraction of components are simulated in time. The model is then extended to account for transient heat and mass transfer between the biomass particle and the ambient gas. Finally, a stochastic description of the problem is presented where a distribution of ambient gas temperature is considered. The effect of the stochastic variability of ambient temperature on the yield of biomass conversion is investigated.</p>