Performance assessment of drop tube reactor for biomass fast pyrolysis using process simulator

Biomass pyrolysis process from a drop tube reactor was modelled in plug flow using Aspen Plus simulation software. A kinetic mechanism for developed considering the recent improvements and updated schemes to account different content of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin. In this regard, oak, beechwood, rice straw, cassava stalk biomasses were analyzed. The main phenomena governing are identified terms characteristic times. Pyrolysis found be reaction rate controlled. Effects temperature on bio-oil, gases, char yields evaluated. At optimum conditions (i.e., 500°C), bio-oil yield 67.3, 64, 43, 52 wt.% obtained stalk, respectively. Oak beechwood give high while straw produced gas compared other biomasses. Although is factor that plays key role distribution products, composition lignin feedstock also determines behaviour products. With rise temperature, further decomposition intermediate components initiated favouring formation lighter fractions. Comparably, species belonging aldehyde chemical family had highest share all investigated feedstocks. Overall, present study shows good agreement with experimental reported literature, confirming its validity as predictive tool biomass process.