Laboratory and pilot scale studies on fast pyrolysis of corn stover

Abstract

In order to design a hot ceramic ball heated down-flow tuber reactor for the pyrolysis liquefaction of agricultural residues, the devolatilization characteristics of pulverized corn stover were studied in a Laminar Entrained Flow Furnace (LEFF) with the temperature range of 800-950 K. The flow characteristics of corn stover particles and ceramic balls in a vertical square tube were measured and analyzed by the techniques of particle image velocimetry (PIV). The devolatilization experiments were carried out in an isothermal manner and the maximum of volatile matter of pulverized corn stover particles was 72.68% with the residence time of 189 ms at 950 K. Parameters of the first order Arrhenius equation for describing the pulverized corn stover flash pyrolysis were determined. In the PIV experiments, the corn stover particle axial velocity were measured at different cross-sections of the tube for different conditions. For the tuber connected with a suction pump, the maximum velocity was about 0.79 m/s, determined by the flow rate of the suction pump. Finally, a hot ceramic ball heated down-flow tuber reactor was constructed for pilot demonstration. The capacity of the reactor was 110.5 kg/h of corn stover powder and the yield of bio-oil was 41.6% of the feed stock.

Keywords: Corn stover, pyrolysis, bio-oil, particle image velocimetry
DOI: 10.3965/j.issn.1934-6344.2008.01.057-063
Citation: Yi Weiming, Bai Xueyuan, Li Zhihe, Wang Lihong, Wang Nana, Yang Yanqiang. Laboratory and pilot scale studies on fast pyrolysis of corn stover. Int J Agric & Biol Eng. 2008;1(1): 57－63.