Study of the elephant grass fast pyrolysis in a bubbling fluidized bed reactor throught the fine charcoal characterization

Author(s)

Edgardo Olivares Gómez

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Engenharia Agricola
• Defense date: 2002-07-29

Examining board members

Luís Augusto Barbosa Cortez; Meuris Gurgel Carlos da Silva; Jose Otavio Brito; Caio Glauco Sánchez

• Advisor: Luís Augusto Barbosa Cortez

Abstract

Fast pyrolysis is an inovative process to convert organic materials under moderate temperature, high mass and heat transfer, and short residence time. Such characteristics make the fluid bed the most appropriate technology to process and better develop all physico-chemical biomass changes. Through the fluid bed (bubbling or circulating) thermoconvertion process it is possible to obtain high yields of bio-oil as the main product. In pilot plants bio-oil typical yields are in the range of 60% to 65% wt (dry basis) and residual gas and char are used as an additional energy source in the process. To improve the knowledge and provide subsidies for the theoretic elucidation of the fine biomass bubbling fluid bed fast pyrolysis, this study characterizes the primary fine char produced in the process and its relation to the reactor operational and fluidinamics conditions. The characterization of the fine char particles is also useful for making data avaiable for modelling, studing and developing higher efficient systems to separate these particles from the pyrolysis gases and vapours aiming to improve the bio-oil quality. The research is based mainly on theoretical principles about lignocellulosic material pyrolysis and its process variables, some aspects of the pyrolysis process modelling and its technological development. Firstly, it was carried out an experimental and theoretical study in a bench-scaled facility and under normal conditions based on the fluid systems. The solids fluid-dynamics properties and characteristics such as biomass and inert filling were evaluated. It were also analyzed the particle size and the materials physical properties effect on the minimal fluid velocity and on the particles final velocity. the plant where the fast pyrolysis experiments were carried out was designed to operate with a maximum feed capacity of 100 kg/h (wet basis), fine particle size (approximately 1 to 2 mm diameter) and low bulk density (lower than 60-70 kg/m3 at a approximate 10% moisture content). It was employed a constant 70 kg/h feed rate (wet basis) which was considered an optimum rate based on the experiments carried out. The fluidization gas superficial velocity varied from 0.090 m/s to 0.156 m/s in relation to the bed operation average temperature. At the same bed average temperature, the minimal superficial fluidization velocity varied from 0.008 m/s to 0.010 m/s for the inert material used in the assay. For the experimental data collection it was used an experimental modelling based on a complete factorial planning and on an ortogonal compound central planning (OCCP). It was achieved a 95% statistical data reliability and, for some empirical mathematics models, a 70% determination coeficient was considered satisfactory. It was considered two parameters for the experience planning: the inert material fixed bed height and the relation between the current air mass flow rate and the stequiometric air mass flow rate. This relation defines the gas superficial velocity for the bed different average temperatures. Other parameters were also considered to evaluate the char fines characteristics. The empirical mathematical models were discussed in the light of the pyrolysis phenomena being developed. It was analysed the influence of the bubbling fluid bed operation conditions and the pyrolyisis process parameters in the char fines properties such as volatile and ash content, carbon and oxygen elemental and the char flow rate, etc. A size distribution analysis for char fines was also carreied out. The dynamic behavior of the bubbling fluid bed was evaluated based upon the pressure, temperature, solid concentration and the bed porosity through the reactor height. A preliminary economic assessment of the fast pyrolysis process was carried out aiming to collect financial data related to the bio-oil production. A later economic simulation allowed to obtain the first conclusions about the operational parameters influence in the main financial rates related to the plant in large scale (AU)