Rapid high-temperature pyrolysis of biomass in a free-fall reactor

Rapid pyrolysis of biomass, wood and agricultural residues was studied using a free-fall reactor with which the effects of heating rate, temperature, particle size and residence time on the product distribution, gas composition and char reactivity could be determined. Interest was focused on the effect of the rapid pyrolysis conditions on the reactivity of the char. Formation of low yields of char with high reactivity is desirable in both gasification and combustion. The reactivity of char obtained in pyrolysis of biomass is very strongly influenced by the treatment conditions and may be significantly increased by using high heating rates, small particle size of the fuel and short residence time at higher temperature.