Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis

Biomass pyrolysis product offers great potentials in facilitating energy and environmental challenges. This is, however, yet to be realized due to some technological barriers that limit its economic potential. In this thesis, a flash pyrolysis of Imperata cylindrica in a transported bed reactor is i...

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Main Author:	Oladokun, Olagoke Abimbola
Format:	Thesis
Language:	English
Published:	2017
Subjects:	TP Chemical technology
Online Access:	http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79476/1/OlagokeAbimbolaOladokunPFChE2017.pdf
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spelling	my-utm-ep.794762018-10-31T12:41:34Z Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis 2017 Oladokun, Olagoke Abimbola TP Chemical technology Biomass pyrolysis product offers great potentials in facilitating energy and environmental challenges. This is, however, yet to be realized due to some technological barriers that limit its economic potential. In this thesis, a flash pyrolysis of Imperata cylindrica in a transported bed reactor is investigated, aiming at improving its overall performances from both operation and design perspectives using a mathematical modelling approach. A macroscopic model of the process was used in estimating the kinetic parameters of I. cylindrica and in determining the optimal operating conditions of the reactor. A microscopic model using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was applied to study the reactor’s hydrodynamics and to determine optimal values for key design parameters, i.e., solid inlet positions, gas inlet position and height-width ratio. To facilitate more detailed analyses, a new algorithm was developed for determining cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin compositions from biomass devolatilization kinetic study. The results obtained confirmed that I. cylindrica has good fuel properties and decomposes easily in the presence of heat, thus making it a suitable feedstock for biofuel production in thermochemical processes. However, the laboratory scaled transported bed reactor was found inefficient and requires very high operating temperature in maximizing biooil yield. Based on the CFD study, the efficiency can be improved if the biomass and hot-sand inlets were positioned closer to the reactor wall and at opposite end. The results also indicated that a good hydrogen gas yield could be obtained from steam reforming of I. cylindrica biooil. In conclusion, the mathematical modelling approach carried out in this study has highlighted the potential of the proposed process and the use of I. cylindrica as a good biomass source for energy. 2017 Thesis http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79476/ http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79476/1/OlagokeAbimbolaOladokunPFChE2017.pdf application/pdf en public phd doctoral Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering
institution	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
collection	UTM Institutional Repository
language	English
topic	TP Chemical technology
spellingShingle	TP Chemical technology Oladokun, Olagoke Abimbola Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
description	Biomass pyrolysis product offers great potentials in facilitating energy and environmental challenges. This is, however, yet to be realized due to some technological barriers that limit its economic potential. In this thesis, a flash pyrolysis of Imperata cylindrica in a transported bed reactor is investigated, aiming at improving its overall performances from both operation and design perspectives using a mathematical modelling approach. A macroscopic model of the process was used in estimating the kinetic parameters of I. cylindrica and in determining the optimal operating conditions of the reactor. A microscopic model using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was applied to study the reactor’s hydrodynamics and to determine optimal values for key design parameters, i.e., solid inlet positions, gas inlet position and height-width ratio. To facilitate more detailed analyses, a new algorithm was developed for determining cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin compositions from biomass devolatilization kinetic study. The results obtained confirmed that I. cylindrica has good fuel properties and decomposes easily in the presence of heat, thus making it a suitable feedstock for biofuel production in thermochemical processes. However, the laboratory scaled transported bed reactor was found inefficient and requires very high operating temperature in maximizing biooil yield. Based on the CFD study, the efficiency can be improved if the biomass and hot-sand inlets were positioned closer to the reactor wall and at opposite end. The results also indicated that a good hydrogen gas yield could be obtained from steam reforming of I. cylindrica biooil. In conclusion, the mathematical modelling approach carried out in this study has highlighted the potential of the proposed process and the use of I. cylindrica as a good biomass source for energy.
format	Thesis
qualification_name	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.)
qualification_level	Doctorate
author	Oladokun, Olagoke Abimbola
author_facet	Oladokun, Olagoke Abimbola
author_sort	Oladokun, Olagoke Abimbola
title	Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
title_short	Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
title_full	Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
title_fullStr	Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
title_full_unstemmed	Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
title_sort	kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis
granting_institution	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering
granting_department	Faculty of Chemical & Energy Engineering
publishDate	2017
url	http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/79476/1/OlagokeAbimbolaOladokunPFChE2017.pdf
_version_	1747818235554693120

Kinetic studies and mathematical modelling of Imperata cylindrica flash pyrolysis

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