Advanced Distributed Reactivity Model for the Static Pyrolysis of Corn Stover Feedstock

Abstract

Advanced distributed reactivity model for static pyrolysis of corn stover was proposed. It was found that at the lowest operating temperature (180 degrees C), pyrolysis process was governed by autocatalytic and non-autocatalytic reactions which occur simultaneously. With an increasing of the operating temperature above 180 degrees C, the amplifying of acceleratory behavior of the process was observed, where at 270 degrees C a fairly rapid surface reactions dominate. It was established that surface reaction geometry activities become dominant at highest operating temperature. It was found that retention of the apparent activation energy (E-a) at low level probably originates from mineral content linked to ash, which has harmful effect on volatiles yield. Based on estimated characteristic features of reactivity distribution, it was concluded that with an increasing of operating temperature we have a reduction in a char yield, and an increase in gas yield. Proposed model enables identification of chemical compounds that first undergoes in decomposition during pyrolysis.