Simulation of biomass pyrolysis in down flow reactor

In order to analyze biomass pyrolysis process in the down flow reactor, heat transfer from solid heat media to biomass and flow of the mixture in the inclined tube reactor were studied and equations to depict flow and heat transfer were developed. Combined with pyrolysis kinetics model, biomass pyrolysis in down flow tube reactor was simulated and the result was validated via experiments on the pilot equipment. The model was also used to predict the effect of various parameters to the production of bio-oil. Results show that the initial temperature, size and mass ratio of heat media have significant influences on the distribution of products. To maximize the yield of bio-oil, the appropriate initial temperature of the heat media is about 773K, and the ratio of the mass flow of the heat media to the mass flow of biomass is about 20:1. These results can be used as the reference for the design and operation of the reactor.