A Mathematical model For Pyrolysis of Biomass

Abstract

Biomass is recently gaining popularity in industry as a promising source of renewable energy. Thermal conversion of biomass is recently gaining increased attention of researchers as a way of improving the efficiency of raw biomass fuel due to higher advantages it gives as compared to direct biomass combustion. These conversion methods are well studied using mathematical models and computer simulations based on them. The present paper focuses on developing a Pyrolysis model which will be sensitive to type of wood subjected to pyrolysis. In present approach, pyrolysis reaction is represented by a one-step global reaction. The stoichiometric coefficients of this reaction are assumed to be dependent on the type of wood species subjected to pyrolysis, thus making it possible to include the dependency on wood species to mathematical model. The stoichiometric coefficients are then determined using experimental data obtained from ultimate and proximate analysis of biomass. Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations are then run for pyrolysis of Gliricidia, Coconut shells and Mango shells.