title: A pulse-width modulation controlled wire-mesh heater apparatus for investigation of solid fuel pyrolysis.
abstract: A novel wire mesh heater apparatus has been developed to study the devolatilization of solid fuels under pressurized conditions at well-controlled heating rates on the order of 1000 K/s. The apparatus combines direct current and pulse-width modulation with a fast-acting and high current-capacity relay to achieve operating frequencies up to 2000 Hz. This frequency allows much quicker feedback and tighter control of temperature than conventional ac-based systems that operate at 50 to 60 Hz. The present apparatus has been successfully operated at 63 bars with final temperatures of 1473 K and heating rates of 1100 K/s.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute for Clean & Secure Energy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.
authors.forename: David Ray
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Kevin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Whitty