Technology

Fast Pyrolysis Process

Fast Pyrolysis is a process by which small particles of biomass waste are rapidly heated to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, vaporized, and then condensed into liquid fuel.

Cellulose feedstock is dried to less than 10% water to minimize the water in the product liquid oil, and grind to around 2mm to give sufficiently small particles to ensure rapid reaction. It is then fed into a bubbling fluid-bed reactor, which is heated to 450–500 °C.

The resulting gases pass into a cyclone where solid particles, char, are extracted. The gases enter a quench tower where they are quickly cooled using Bio Oil already made in the process.

The Bio Oil condenses and falls into the product tank, while non-condensable gases are returned to the reactor to maintain process heating. The entire reaction from injection to quenching takes only two seconds.

Products of the process are typically 65-72% liquid Pyrolysis Oil, 15-20% solid char and 12-18% non-condensable gases (NCG), depending on the type of feedstock. The process has no waste since both Pyrolysis Oil and char have significant commercial application and value, while non-condensable gases are recycled and produce approximately 75% of the energy required for the Pyrolysis process.The essential features of a fast Pyrolysis process are:

Very high heating and heat transfer rates, which usually requires a finely ground biomass feed
Carefully controlled Pyrolysis reaction temperature of around 500oC in the vapor phase, with short vapor residence times of typically less than 2 seconds
Rapid cooling of the Pyrolysis vapors to give the bio-oil product.
Extraction separates out the phenolics from the Pyrolysis oil
Resin synthesis mixes these phenolics with traditional phenol and formaldehyde to produce resin.

Our design process has allowed us to rapidly improve performance and decrease labor requirements.


Technology Pyrolysis Liquid - Bio Oil Bio Char Bio Oil Applications Bio-based Resins We've embarked on the beginning of the last days of the age of oil. Embrace the future and recognize the growing demand for a wide range of fuels or ignore reality and slowly—but surely—be left behind. -Mike Bowlin, chairman and CEO of ARCO (now BP), speech in Houston, 9 Feb 1999		Technology Fast Pyrolysis Process Fast Pyrolysis is a process by which small particles of biomass waste are rapidly heated to high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, vaporized, and then condensed into liquid fuel. Cellulose feedstock is dried to less than 10% water to minimize the water in the product liquid oil, and grind to around 2mm to give sufficiently small particles to ensure rapid reaction. It is then fed into a bubbling fluid-bed reactor, which is heated to 450–500 °C. The resulting gases pass into a cyclone where solid particles, char, are extracted. The gases enter a quench tower where they are quickly cooled using Bio Oil already made in the process. The Bio Oil condenses and falls into the product tank, while non-condensable gases are returned to the reactor to maintain process heating. The entire reaction from injection to quenching takes only two seconds. Products of the process are typically 65-72% liquid Pyrolysis Oil, 15-20% solid char and 12-18% non-condensable gases (NCG), depending on the type of feedstock. The process has no waste since both Pyrolysis Oil and char have significant commercial application and value, while non-condensable gases are recycled and produce approximately 75% of the energy required for the Pyrolysis process.The essential features of a fast Pyrolysis process are: Very high heating and heat transfer rates, which usually requires a finely ground biomass feed Carefully controlled Pyrolysis reaction temperature of around 500oC in the vapor phase, with short vapor residence times of typically less than 2 seconds Rapid cooling of the Pyrolysis vapors to give the bio-oil product. Extraction separates out the phenolics from the Pyrolysis oil Resin synthesis mixes these phenolics with traditional phenol and formaldehyde to produce resin. Our design process has allowed us to rapidly improve performance and decrease labor requirements.