Pyrolysis of Centimeter-Scale Woody Biomass Particles: Kinetic Modeling and Experimental Validation

Abstract

Pyrolysis of centimeter-scale wood particles is of practical interest and provides a sensitive test of pyrolysis models, especially their thermochemistry. In this paper we present an updated comprehensive pyrolysis model including chemical reactions and transport of heat and species, implemented independently in two different software environments. Results of the model are compared to experimental results of three independent sets of centimeter-scale experiments. Temperatures, mass losses, and rate of production of several gaseous and light tar species are included in the comparisons. Predictions and experiments agree qualitatively and in most cases have reasonable quantitative agreement. We also report comparisons of model predictions to literature data obtained in other regimes (thermogravimetric analysis and homogeneous tar cracking) in order to demonstrate that predictive capabilities of the model have not been compromised by the modifications presented here.