article · Energy Conversion and Management X
This research evaluates how temperature and particle size affect the pyrolysis of wood sawdust using a custom-designed cylindrical reactor. Operating across temperatures from 250 to 450 degrees Celsius at a steady heating rate of 10 degrees Celsius per minute, the study measured the yields and energy characteristics of the resulting syngas, bio-oil, and biochar. Increasing the operating temperature directly boosted the generation of both bio-oil and syngas. The highest bio-oil output reached 55 percent at 450 degrees Celsius, while biochar yield was highest at 250 degrees Celsius, reaching 60 percent. Feedstock size also influenced output, with particle sizes under 0.1 millimetres yielding 47 percent bio-oil. Physical and chemical testing established that the bio-oil had an average viscosity between 2.06 and 3.55 mPa s and a uniform density of approximately 1.05 grams per cubic centimetre. Produced gases included carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide.
Rising global energy needs and dwindling fossil fuels make renewable alternatives critical. Converting forestry by-products such as sawdust into usable fuels offers a practical path toward sustainable energy. Understanding the exact temperatures needed to maximise bio-oil, biochar, or gas production allows processors to tune conversion systems for specific, valuable energy outputs.
This work demonstrates an applied, experimental-stage conversion process relevant to bioenergy producers, forestry waste processors, and reactor manufacturers. The findings provide operational parameters, such as optimal temperatures and particle sizes, needed to maximise yields of bio-oil and syngas. Because the work was performed in an experimental reactor, further engineering scale-up and validation would be required before commercial deployment.
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The use of alternative energy sources has become increasingly imperative due to the increasing demand for global energy and the depletion of fossil fuel reserves. Biomass stands as a key player in addressing both current and forthcoming energy challenges, serving as a promising solution to fulfill the heightened need for energy resources. This study focused on investigating the impact of temperature variation during the pyrolysis process on the resultant yield (syngas, bio-oil, biochar), as well as examining the physicochemical characteristics of energy, and exergy output. To accomplish this, a cylindrical pyrolysis reactor was specifically designed and utilized for the experimentation, employing wood sawdust with particle sizes ranging from 0.1 to 30 mm as the primary feedstock. The experimental investigations and subsequent thermodynamic analyses were conducted through a temperature range of 250 to 450 °C, employing a heating rate of 10 °C/min. The findings revealed a direct correlation between the increase in pyrolysis temperature and the enhanced output of bio-oil and syngas. Optimal yields were observed at different temperature values, with bio-oil peaking at 450 °C (55 %) and biochar at 250 °C (60 %). Furthermore, bio-oil yield notably reached 47 % with particle sizes below 0.1 mm. The viscosity of the produced bio-oil averaged between 2.06 and 3.55 mPa s, while the density consistently approximated 1.05 g/cm3 across all cases. Detailed analyses including chemical and physical characteristics were conducted utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The observation and quantification of CO, H2, CH4, and CO2 were part of the analytical process. This study shed light on the significance of temperature control in optimizing the output of valuable energy products from biomass pyrolysis, the potential for sustainable energy production, and the involved interplay of variables influencing the process.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.ecmx.2024.100583
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