Title
Design, optimization and evaluation of a free-fall biomass fast pyrolysis reactor and its products
Degree Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2009
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Robert C. Brown
Abstract
The focus of this work is a radiatively heated, free-fall, fast pyrolysis reactor. The reactor was designed and constructed for the production of bio-oil from the fast pyrolysis of biomass. A central composite design of experiments was performed to evaluate the novel reactor by varying four operating conditions: reactor temperature, biomass particle size, carrier gas flow rate and biomass feed rate. Maximum bio-oil yields of 72 wt % were achieved at a heater set point temperature of 600 yC, using particle sizes of 300 micron, carrier gas flow rates of 4 sL/min and Red oak biomass feed rates of 1.75 kg/hr. Optimal operating conditions were identified for maximum bio-oil yields at a heater set point temperature of 572 ˚C, feeding 240 micron sized Red oak biomass particles at 2 kg/hr. Carrier gas flow rates were not found to be significant over the 1 - 5 sL/min range tested.
Copyright Owner
Cody James Ellens
Copyright Date
2009
Language
en
Date Available
2012-04-30
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
154 pages
Recommended Citation
Ellens, Cody James, "Design, optimization and evaluation of a free-fall biomass fast pyrolysis reactor and its products" (2009). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 11096.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/11096
