Analysis of Biomass Pyrolysis Product Yield Distribution in Thermally Thin Regime at Different Heating Rates

A better understanding of biomass pyrolysis process at various thermal regimes is fundamental to the optimization of biomass thermochemical conversion processes. In this research work, the behaviour of biomass pyrolysis in thermally thin regime was numerically investigated at different heating rates (1, 5, 10 and 20 K/s). A kinetic model, consisting of five ordinary differential equations, was used to simulate the pyrolysis process. The model equations were coupled and simultaneously solved by using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The concentrations of the biomass sample (Maple wood) and product species per time were simulated. Findings revealed that tar yield increased with increase in heating rate. Char yield, however, decreased with increase in heating rate. Results also showed that the extent of secondary reactions, which influenced gas yield concentration, is a function of residence time and temperature. This model can be adopted for any biomass material when the kinetic parameters of the material are known. Keywords: Biomass, pyrolysis, kinetic model, thermally thin regim

Impact of Equivalence Ratio on the Macrostructure of Premixed Swirling CH4/Air and CH4/O2/CO2 Flames

Premixed CH[subscript 4]/O[subscript 2]/CO[subscript 2] flames (oxy-flames) and CH[subscript 4]/air flames (air-flames) were experimentally studied in a swirl-stabilized combustor. For comparing oxy and air flames, the same equivalence ratio and adiabatic flame temperature were used. CO[subscript 2] dilution was adjusted to attain the same adiabatic temperature for the oxy-flame and the corresponding air-flame while keeping the equivalence ratio and Reynolds number (=20,000) the same. For high equivalence ratios, we observed flames stabilized along the inner and outer shear layers of the swirling flow and sudden expansion, respectively, in both flames. However, one notable difference between the two flames appears as the equivalence ratio reaches 0.60. At this point, the outer shear layer flame disappears in the air-flame while it persists in the oxy-flame, despite the lower burning velocity of the oxy-flame. Prior PIV measurements (Ref. 9) showed that the strains along the outer shear layer are higher than along the inner shear layer. Therefore, the extinction strain rates in both flames were calculated using a counter-flow premixed twin flame configuration. Calculations at the equivalence ratio of 0.60 show that the extinction strain rate is higher in the oxy than in the air flame, which help explain why it persists on the outer shear layer with higher strain rate. It is likely that extinction strain rates contribute to the oxy-flame stabilization when air flame extinguish in the outer shear layer. However, the trend reverses at higher equivalence ratio, and the cross point of the extinction strain rate appears at equivalence ratio of 0.64.King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Grant KUS- 110-010-01