What is Biomass Pyrolysis?

Combustion File no.: 102

Author: Jen Kovcs

Version no.: 1

Referee: Peter Roberts

Date: 15-10-2001

Source: See end

1. General

Pyrolysis is the transformation of a compound or material into one or more substances by

heat alone (without oxidation); in other words thermal decomposition. [1]
Pyrolysis is somewhat similar to vaporization, however, it is a relatively slow chemical
process compared to the vaporization. The temperature at which pyrolysis occurs depends
on the fuel type and the heating rate. Typically, bituminous coal pyrolises at about 420 oC
(1% mass loss) for heating rates < 100 K/s. This temperature is at or below the spontaneous
ignition temperature for hydrocarbons. At high heating rates (>10 000 K/s), pyrolysis is
presumed to start around 1220 oC.
Pyrolysis products consist of volatile gases, liquids (tar), and char generally. Products ranges
from lighter volatiles (CH4, C2H4, C2H6, CO, CO2, H2, H2O, etc.) to heavier tars. The
composition of the volatile matter (gases), products of pyrolysis, depends also on the fuel.
The composition of the volatiles from lignite (low rank) coals at 1000K is 3% CH4 and 38%
CO and CO2.

2. Pyrolysis of Biomass

Pyrolysis of biomass is the thermal degradation of the material in the absence of reacting
gases, and occurs prior to or simultaneously with gasification reactions in a gasifier. The
liquid fraction of pyrolisised biomass consists of an insoluble viscous tar, and pyroligneous
acids (acetic acid, methanol, acetone, esters, aldehydes, and furfural). The distribution of
pyrolysis products varies depending on the feedstock composition, heating rate,
temperature, and pressure, see Table 1. Pyrolysis units cannot operate independently
without an external supply of heat. As examples, two technologies [3] for biomass pyrolysis
and their properties are listed below:
slow pyrolysis (e.g. Dutch Gibros-Pec technology):
a) size reduction, drying
b) pyrolysis (atmospheric pressure, 450 oC)
c) produced char is mixed with coal, followed by conventional coal treatment
d) pyrolysis gas is used to drive the pyrolysis or to combust in gas burner
(low temperature gas clean-up may be installed)
fast pyrolysis (e.g. Pyrovas technology):
a) size reduction, drying
b) pyrolysis (0.15 bar, 500 oC)
c) char, oil combusted in the coal boiler
d) gas is used to drive the pyrolysis
(most of the contaminants are in the oil and char, therefore it is applicable for

relatively clean fuels)

Table 1. Different types of pyrolysis. [3]
pyrolysis
heating rate
residence time
[K/s]
[s]
Slow
<< 1
300 - 1800
Fast

500 - 105

0.5 5

temperature
[oC]
400
600
500 650

Flash

> 105

<1
<1
< 0.5

< 650
> 650
1000

product
char
gas, oil, char
70% oil
15% char
15% gas
oil
gas
gas

Glossary terms:

Fuel - A fuel is the generic term describing the material - solid, liquid, gaseous, emulsion
etc. - which contains the carbon and/or hydrogen consumed in the industrial combustion
process.
Pyrolysis Thermal decomposition of a compound or material into one or more substances by
heat alone (without oxidation).
Spontaneous ignition Initiation of combustion of a material by an internal chemical or
biological reaction that has produced sufficient heat to ignite the material.
Spontaneous ignition temperature The temperature of spontaneous ignition.
Volatile matter - Those products given off by matter as gas or vapour.

Keywords:

Biomass, combustion, pyrolysis, thermal decomposition.

Source:

[1] Consumer energy information. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network. U.S.
Department of Energy. Source: http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/glossary.html
[2] Sami, M., Annamalai, K. & Wooldridge, M. (2001): Co-firing of coal and biomass fuel
blends. Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Vol. 27., pp. 171-214.
[3] Ree, R.van, Korbee, R., Meijer, R, Konings, T., Aart F. van (2001): Operational experiences
of (in)direct co-combustion in coal and gas fired power plants in Europe. Power-Gen
Conference, Brussels, February.
The information contained in this Combustion File is derived from the IFRF Combustion Handbook
(http://www.handbook.ifrf.net)
IFRF 1999 - 2001