Abstract
Conventional pyrolysis produces charcoal, pyrolysis oil and gas in approximately equal proportions. However fast pyrolysis has the potential for producing over 60% of an organic pyrolysis oil from biomass. The oil can be used as a low grade boiler fuel or the vapors can be converted to gasoline-like fuels.
However, fast pyrolysis requires high rates of heat transfer. Heat transfer can be greatly enhanced by pressure contact between biomass and hot solid surfaces. A “pyrolysis mill” has been developed to produce pyrolysis oil from biomass particles. Mass balance data is presented on six runs on sawdust. Yields of up to 54% of liquid have been achieved to date. Research is now in progress to optimize liquid yield and quality.
A simple model of the operation of the pyrolysis mill is presented. In the model particles fall between the millstones near the center and follow a spiral path of n turns to the edge. Rotation rate and pressure determines the residence time and degree of pyrolysis. The model predicts a mass flow of 1.7 tons/day for a 1 m diameter mill wheel, and such a mill would require a heat input of 20 kW. Multiple wheels could be used to improve the throughput.
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References
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© 1988 Elsevier Science Publishers Ltd
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Reed, T.B. (1988). Contact Pyrolysis in a “Pyrolysis Mill”. In: Bridgwater, A.V., Kuester, J.L. (eds) Research in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2737-7_15
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2737-7_15
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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