A Comprehensive Model of Biomass Pyrolysis

Over the next decade there will be a renewed emphasis on the production of chemicals and liquid fuels from biomass, the use of agricultural wastes as feedstocks, and the development of crops and farming techniques optimized for fuel production. In view of the tremendous diversity of biomass feedstocks, a great need exists for a robust, comprehensive model that could be utilized to predict yields, composition, and properties of pyrolysis products as a function of feedstock characteristics and process conditions. The innovation of this project involves modifying and exisiting advanced coal devolatilization model, and making it suitable for pyrolysis of biomass. The soundness of this approach is based on numerous similarities between biomass and coal. There are important differences, however, which preclude direct application of the coal model. The objective of Phase I program is to create a predictive biomass-pyrolysis model incorporating a detailed understanding of the underlying physical and chemical processes. This will be accomplished in three tasks: 1) selection and characterization of several materials representing the main types of biomass; 2) model development; 3) model validation. The Phase II program will focus on model refinement and the creation of a software package for Phase III commercialization.