Optimization of a free-fall reactor for the production of fast pyrolysis bio-oil.
A central composite design of experiments was performed to optimize a free-fall reactor for the production of bio-oil from red oak biomass. The effects of four experimental variables including heater set-point temperature, biomass particle size, sweep gas flow rate and biomass feed rate were studied. Heater set-point temperature ranged from 450 to 650 °C, average biomass particle size from 200 to 600 μm, sweep gas flow rate from 1 to 5 sL/min and biomass feed rate from 1 to 2 kg/h. Optimal operating conditions yielding over 70 wt.% bio-oil were identified at a heater set-point temperature of 575 °C, while feeding red oak biomass sized less than 300 μm at 2 kg/h into the 0.021 m diameter, 1.8m tall reactor. Sweep gas flow rate did not have significant effect on bio-oil yield over the range tested.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University (ISU), Ames, IA 50011, USA.
C J
CJ
Ellens
R C
RC
Brown
D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010316:Particle Size; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000378:metabolism*; D029963:Quercus / Q000737:chemistry*; D012212:Rheology; D013696:Temperature
D005740:Gases; D010938:Plant Oils