Date of Award
2016
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics
Advisor 1
Ezra Bar-Ziv
Advisor 2
Jordan Klinger
Committee Member 1
Jeffrey D. Naber
Committee Member 2
David R. Shonnard
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to show the effectiveness of a novel paddle reactor for fast pyrolysis and study the effect of biomass particle size and reaction temperature of Arundo Donax a type of energy crop on the bio-oil yields. The novel paddle reactor showed effective mixing and heat transfer which were proved with the help of studying the residence time and the heating characteristics of the system respectively. The effect of different biomass particle sizes on the bio-oil yield was not significant, the bio-oil yield was approximately 50% for all the sizes. For Arundo Donax particle sizes less than 1.0 mm would not have any significant effect on the bio-oil yield. The effect of reaction temperature on the bio-oil yield was not significant as the reaction temperature was increased from 500 to 530ºC, the bio-oil yield decreased by 7% within that temperature range. Maximum bio-oil yield was obtained in the range of 470-500ºC which was approximately 50%. A parabolic curve was obtained for reaction temperature vs bio-oil yield as predicted. For Arundo Donax the temperature for maximum bio-oil yield is about the same as for woody biomass, around 500ºC.
Recommended Citation
Desai, Chintan, "EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF FAST PYROLYSIS OF ARUNDO DONAX IN A NOVEL PADDLE REACTOR", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2016.