Intermediate pyrolysis of biomass energy pellets for producing sustainable liquid, gaseous and solid fuels

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 169; pp. 794 - 799
• Main Authors: Yang, Y., Brammer, J.G., Mahmood, A.S.N., Hornung, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biofuel production; Biofuels; Biological and medical sciences; Biomass; Biotechnology; Biotechnology - methods; Charcoal - analysis; Conservation of Natural Resources; Energy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gases - analysis; Hot Temperature; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Intermediate pyrolysis; Oils; Pilot scale; Pyroformer; Pyrolysis oil; Sustainable fuels; Pyrolysis oil; Pyroformer; Pilot scale; Sustainable fuels; Intermediate pyrolysis; Pellet; Pyrolysis; System sustainability; Biomass; Solid fuel; Pilot plant scale; Gaseous state; Bioenergy
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.07.044

•Biomass energy pellets were pyrolysed to produce fuels in the Pyroformer system.•Barley straw oil has a higher calorific value, but reduced yield and quality.•Wood and barley straw produce similar permanent gas and char.•The overall product energy yields are over 73% for wood and barley straw. This work describes the use of intermediate pyrolysis system to produce liquid, gaseous and solid fuels from pelletised wood and barley straw feedstock. Experiments were conducted in a pilot-scale system and all products were collected and analysed. The liquid products were separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase (pyrolysis oil) under gravity. The oil yields were 34.1wt.% and 12.0wt.% for wood and barley straw, respectively. Analysis found that both oils were rich in heterocyclic and phenolic compounds and have heating values over 24MJ/kg. The yields of char for both feedstocks were found to be about 30wt.%, with heating values similar to that of typical sub-bituminous class coal. Gas yields were calculated to be approximately 20wt.%. Studies showed that both gases had heating values similar to that of downdraft gasification producer gas. Analysis on product energy yields indicated the process efficiency was about 75%.