Berlin Institute of Technology

Bio-char characterization of technical-scale fixed-bed pyrolysis

Motivation

Andrs Anca-Couce, Alba Dieguez-Alonso, Nico Zobel, Frank Behrendt

Why fixed-bed?
It is a promising alternative for decentralized biomass energetic utilization and waste treatment.

Why technical-scale pyrolysis?

Lab-scale pyrolysis has been deeply studied. However experimental results in larger scales, taking into
account interactions between chemical reactions and transport phenomena, are scarce.

Approach

Biomass: pine wood chips (3x2x0,5cm3), beech wood spheres

(=25mm), cellulose and waste.

GC
TCD

1 m height
22 cm

LIF
system

Results and conclusions

1. Proximate analysis

Total char yield in each batch

experiment depends on material,
final temperature (measured at 10
cm from the bottom), and N2 flow
rate ( flow
secondary char).
Char characterization in 4 positions
in the bed to study the influence of
transport phenomena in bed
homogeneity and char properties.

2. Ultimate analysis

Fixed carbon
12.90%
Fixed
carbon
14.01%
Fixed
carbon
5.17%

3. pH

4. Internal surface area

1. Higher homogeneity is obtained with temperatures and initial

densities (beech spheres > pine chips > waste > cellulose).
volatiles content is obtained with temperatures and also flow
rate (due to less secondary heterogeneous reactions).
2. Good correlation ultimate (O/C ratio) - proximate (% vol.) analysis.
3. The pH is dependent on the O/C ratio, increasing basicity with
decreasing O/C, except in the case of cellulose.
4. Internal surface area strongly depends on final pyrolysis
temperature. It is not strongly affected by flow rate or material.
5. Around 100% retention of K, but significant release of Ca and Mg.

5. Mineral retention

Department of Energy Engineering

Chair for Energy Process Engineering and Conversion Technologies for Renewable Energies
Fasanenstrasse 89, 10623 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 (0)30 314 22452, Email: andres.ancacouce@mailbox.tu-berlin.de