Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “Biomass pyrolysis”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Cycloalkane-rich sustainable aviation fuel production via hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived catalytic fast pyrolysis oils

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) produced from lignocellulosic biomass is emerging as an ideal alternative to conventional jet fuel for aviation sector decarbonization. Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) can convert lignocellulosic biomass into relatively stable bio-oil that can be selectively transformed to various transportation fuels through hydroprocessing under conditions of different severities. In this contribution, two CFP oils produced from pine-based feedstocks over different types of catalysts (i.e., ZSM-5 and Pt/TiO 2 catalysts) were hydrotreated at 125 bar in a non-isothermal process with a maximum temperature of 385 °C over a sulfided NiMo/Al 2 O 3 catalyst to produce SAF with high cycloalkane concentrations of 89–92 wt%. Cycloalkanes are an important component of jet fuel with advantageous fuel properties, such as high energy density, low sooting, and potential for replacing aromatic hydrocarbons to provide good seal swelling properties. The hydrotreating process successfully converted 91–92% of the biogenic carbon in the CFP oil intermediates to liquid-phase hydrotreated products. Through distillation, 39–40 wt% of the hydrotreated oils were collected in the jet-fuel range as SAF fractions. The rest of the hydrotreated product could be valorized as fuels (e.g., diesel) or chemicals. The SAF fractions with oxygen contents below the detection limit (<0.01 wt%) met ASTM D7566 finished fuel blend and D4054 Tier 1 specifications with respect to density, lower heating value (LHV), volatility, flash point, and freeze point. These results indicate hydrotreating lignocellulosic biomass-derived CFP oil as a promising pathway to produce high-quality SAF rich in cycloalkanes. Continued research is required to increase the SAF yield by process improvements, such as increased CFP oil yields, and an enhanced production of SAF-range molecules via e.g., cracking of high-molecular weight compounds either during CFP or hydrotreating, as well as evaluation of a broader range of jet fuel properties and performance requirements.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Assessment of the impact of reactor residence time distribution on non-equilibrium product selectivity of polypropylene pyrolysis using reactive molecular dynamics simulations

Mass residence time distribution (RTD) is considered to be an important factor controlling the product selectivity in the pyrolysis of biomass and plastic wastes along with the pyrolysis chemistry. However, due to the complex pyrolysis chemistry of biomass and plastic waste, the coupling between the reaction chemistry, RTD, and product selectivity is challenging to understand. Here, we introduce a reaction molecular dynamics-based method to examine pyrolysis chemistry and species timescales to assess the impact of RTD on product selectivity and yield. To validate this method, reactive molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for polypropylene pyrolysis and its non-equilibrium product selectivity using 6 different RTDs. We find that the RTD and the reaction chemistry control the peak non-equilibrium product concentrations. The peak monomer (C 3 H 6 ) concentration during pyrolysis can be increased by up to 25 % by using a narrow RTD in the case of polypropylene pyrolysis. We also find that product selectivity is strongly affected by the average residence time and RTD. This coupling between the reaction chemistry, RTD, and product selectivity highlights the need to understand detailed reaction chemistry to control RTD and optimize non-equilibrium product selectivity during polymer and biomass pyrolysis. The present method provides a new way to design RTD for reactors to reach maximized product selectivity of plastic waste and biomass.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Investigating biomass composition and size effects on fast pyrolysis using global sensitivity analysis and CFD simulations

It is notoriously difficult to build an accurate universal model for biomass pyrolysis due to its sensitivity to a wide number of critical material attributes such as chemical species and physical sizes. In this work, a biomass pyrolysis kinetics with 32 heterogeneous reactions and 59 species was implemented in an open-source multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software MFiX and validated against two different experimental pyrolysis data sets that provided detailed data describing chemical component yields. The reaction scheme was then used to build a surrogate model and assess the sensitivity of pyrolysis yields to feedstock compositions. The sensitivity analysis determined that the yield of bio-char showed a strong positive sensitivity to the carbon-rich lignin and tannin pseudo-species in the reaction scheme while the bio-oil and bio-gas were correlated to oxygen-rich lignin pseudo-species. The reaction scheme was then integrated into a coarse-grained discrete element model to simulate fast pyrolysis in a bubbling fluidized bed over a range of feedstock particle sizes. The reactor simulations showed further sensitivity to particle size and hydrodynamics. Notably, particles under 0.5 mm have small heat transfer limitations but left the reactor before completely converting and thus reduced the bio-oil yield. Results from this study can be used to guide future development of highly accurate models for fast pyrolysis reactors with a variety of feedstock properties and operating conditions.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

The Effect of Air Separations on Fast Pyrolysis Products for Forest Residue Feedstocks

This study investigates the intricate relationship between biomass preprocessing and pyrolysis product yields, employing the air classification technique for the treatment of loblolly pine residues with varying moisture content. A comprehensive exploration of the physicochemical properties of air-classified loblolly pine informs a sophisticated pyrolysis simulation model. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of biomass pyrolysis, operating across diverse temporal and spatial scales, a pyrolysis kinetics-based CFD–DEM simulation method is employed to predict product yields. Results showed that the elevated moisture content amplifies particle adhesiveness, necessitating augmented air velocities for effective separation, thereby influencing the efficiency of the separation process. While carbon and hydrogen contents exhibit relative stability across diverse moisture contents and blower frequencies, the oxygen content undergoes noticeable changes. For example, the oxygen contents were measured as 29.2 and 38.6 wt% in the light fraction of 30% moisture content sample at blower frequencies of 10 and 20 Hz, respectively. An intriguing finding emerges from pyrolysis simulation, indicating that a lower blower frequency in air classification moderately enhances bio-oil yield and significantly improves its quality, particularly in terms of water content. For instance, the water content in the bio-oil was about 1.5% and 10% in the heavy and light fractions, respectively from 10% moisture sample under 15 Hz blower frequency. In summary, a detailed understanding and strategic manipulation of critical material attributes in biomass through efficient fractionation techniques are imperative for advancing fast pyrolysis as a sustainable avenue for renewable energy and chemical production.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Air Classification of Forestry Residues for Fast Pyrolysis

Understanding critical biomass attributes through efficient fractionation is crucial for advancing sustainable pyrolysis for renewable energy and chemical production. This study investigates the intricate relationship between biomass preprocessing and pyrolysis product yields, employing the air classification technique for the treatment of loblolly pine residues with varying moisture content. A comprehensive exploration of the physicochemical properties of air-classified loblolly pine informs a sophisticated pyrolysis simulation model. Given the complex and multifaceted nature of biomass pyrolysis, operating across diverse temporal and spatial scales, a pyrolysis kinetics-based CFD–DEM simulation method is employed to predict product yields. Results showed that the elevated moisture content amplifies particle adhesiveness, necessitating augmented air velocities for effective separation, thereby influencing the efficiency of the separation process. While carbon and hydrogen contents exhibit relative stability across diverse moisture contents and blower frequencies, the oxygen content undergoes noticeable changes. For example, the oxygen contents were measured as 29.2 and 38.6 wt% in the light fraction of 30% moisture content sample at blower frequencies of 10 and 20 Hz, respectively. An intriguing finding emerges from pyrolysis simulation, indicating that a lower blower frequency in air classification moderately enhances bio-oil yield and significantly improves its quality, particularly in terms of water content. For instance, the water content in the bio-oil was about 1.5% and 10% in the heavy and light fractions, respectively from 10% moisture sample under 15 Hz blower frequency.

09 - BIOMASS FUELS↗

Quantifying Impacts of Biomass Pelletization on Fast Pyrolysis Using a Single-Particle Reactor, X-ray Computed Tomography, and Computational Modeling

The pore structure and density of lignocellulosic feedstocks dictate intraparticle transport phenomena and thereby play an important role in thermochemical conversion processes such as fast pyrolysis for biofuel and biochemical production. Variations in microstructure are inherent from different biomass species and can be introduced by preprocessing techniques such as cutting and pelletization. Morphological changes also occur during conversion and lead to vastly different pore structures and behavior during pyrolysis, which impact required conversion times and product distributions. The current work presents a comprehensive comparison of fast pyrolysis of neat and pelletized pine feedstocks, which includes single-particle experiments, modeling, and 3D imaging by X-ray computed tomography (XCT). The particle-scale model included anisotropic heat and mass transport in a shrinking particle with pyrolysis reactions based on the CRECK mechanism with boundary conditions informed by reactor-scale simulations of the single-particle reactor. The models were validated by measurements of the temperature and mass loss from single-particle pyrolysis experiments of neat and pelletized pine. Quantitative analysis of XCT geometries revealed that pyrolytic conversion yielded chars with increased porosity and permeability compared to the unpyrolyzed materials, along with decreased tortuosity and anisotropy. Pelletization of the pine feedstock resulted in a much denser, less permeable material, which converted slower and produced more residual char after pyrolysis compared to neat pine. The results from particle modeling revealed that accounting for the dynamic and anisotropic heat and mass transport caused by differences in pore structure is critical to achieving agreement with experimental results. Overall, this study highlights the dramatic differences in conversion behavior imparted by pelletization and the importance of capturing microstructural attributes in computational models to guide the design and optimization of pyrolysis processes for specific biomass feedstocks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

The Development of Catalysts for Upgrading of Pyrolysis Vapor for Refinery Feedstocks and Intermediates: Cooperative Research and Development, CRADA Number CRD-12-00497 (Final Report)

Fast pyrolysis of biomass with vapor phase upgrading (VPU) can produce refinery feedstocks or intermediates that can meet the Department of Energy’s goal of cost-competitive hydrocarbon fuels by 2017. A key technical barrier for this technology is the lack of selective, cost effective catalysts that can produce high yields of fuel-appropriate hydrocarbons from the pyrolysis vapors. In overcoming this barrier, it will be important to engage leading catalyst development companies to devote their resources and expertise to the development of these materials. Thus, we propose a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a world leader in biomass pyrolysis research and Johnson Matthey (JM), a world leader in the production of advanced catalyst materials to develop and test novel catalysts for efficient VPU. Through its Intercat Inc. subsidiary in Savannah, Ga., Johnson Matthey is internationally recognized as a leader in zeolite-based vapor phase upgrading in refinery duties and an emerging developer of biomass conversion technologies. The research and development efforts described in the proposed work will build upon existing collaborations between NREL and JM and play to the strengths of both institutions. NREL will analyze the composition of pyrolysis vapors as an input to catalyst design, screen and test catalysts, characterize the resulting oil and conduct techno-economic analysis. Catalyst samples will be produced and funded by JM. JM will design and synthesize catalysts, characterize fresh and used catalysts and develop catalyst supports needed to achieve commercially meaningful lifetimes. The project will span catalyst development and testing from the fundamental stage using quantum mechanical modeling and chemical reaction analysis to catalyst screening to integrated pilot studies.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Recent Advancements in Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass

Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) is a promising biorefinery technology platform for generating both fuel blendstocks and chemical co-products. The versatility of this platform is afforded by (1) the coupling of a thermochemical deconstruction step to a catalytic step that enables tuning of the product slate and (2) the diversity of accessible products across gaseous, liquid, and solid streams. However, there are a number of challenges impeding commercial viability for this CFP platform, including high process costs caused by low carbon efficiency to bio-oil due to coking and light gas formation, the quality and properties of the bio-oil dictate processability for downstream operations, and the heterogeneity of the bio-oil limits quality of resulting fuel blendstocks. This presentation will discuss our efforts to address these challenges through a combined experimental-computational approach to catalyst design and process development, with a specific focus on (1) modifying product composition through catalyst design and (2) generating olefinic and oxygenated chemical co-products.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

At-Line Sampling and Characterization of Pyrolytic Vapors from Biomass Feedstock Blends Using SPME-GC/MS-PCA: Influence of Char on Fast Pyrolysis

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC-MS analysis was used for at-line sampling of pyrolytic vapors produced during fast pyrolysis of biomass. The pure and binary blends of switchgrass (SWG) and pine harvest residues (PT6) were used as feedstock. Sequential SPME sampling allowed for monitoring of changes in the pyrolysis vapors as char accumulated in the fluid bed. The concentration and composition of the vapors desorbed from the SPME fibers were investigated using GC-MS, and the data sets were then analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) to compare the composition of the pyrolysis vapors over the course of the pyrolysis run. The chemical composition of both carbohydrate and lignin fragments varied as the char builds up in the reactor bed. Fragments derived from cellulose and xylan included anhydrosugars, furans and light oxygenated compounds. Lignin fragments included methoxyphenols, phenolic ketones and aldehydes, low molecular weight aromatics. The composition of the carbohydrate fragments changed more than the lignin fragments as the char build-up in the fluid bed. This combination of SPME-GC/MS-PCA were a novel, easy and effective method for measuring the composition and changes in the composition of pyrolysis vapors during the fast pyrolysis process. Here, this work also highlighted the effect of char build-up on the composition of the overall pyrolysis vapors.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Operando S/TEM Reactions of Pt/TiO 2 Catalysts for Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis

Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into the transportation fuel is an attractive concept. Using ex situ Catalytic Fast Pyrolysis (CFP) improves to upgrade bio-oils via catalytic deoxygenation of the biomass pyrolysis vapors. Zeolites are often used in this technique as the catalyst; however, in order to reduce minimum fuel selling price and improve carbon yields, ongoing research emphasizes catalyst optimization. By using bifunctional metal-acid catalysts and utilizing hydrogen, it is possible to improve carbon yields by minimizing the carbon-containing light gasses (since oxygen is removed aswater) and by reducing coke formation. Current research and development activities focuses on Pt/TiO 2 catalysts as the most promising catalyst candidates for the hydrodeoxygenation process. Here, our aim is to determine the structure-function relationships of the Pt/TiO 2 catalyst and the role of Pt dispersions within the catalyst on performance, using operando scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM).

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of Temperature on the Pilot-Scale Catalytic Pyrolysis of Loblolly Pine

A pilot-scale biomass catalytic pyrolysis unit with a nominal throughput of one tonne of biomass per day (1TPD) has been in operation since 2013 to investigate the process parameters that have the largest influence on biocrude yield, oxygen content, and chemical composition. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature, ranging from 433 to 581 °C, on biocrude yield and quality. A locally sourced loblolly pine feedstock and a commercially available, spray dried, nonzeolitic γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst were used in individual experiments conducted at each pyrolysis temperature to achieve a minimum of 4 h of steady-state continuous operation. Typically, 600–800 kg of biomass was fed over a 12-h period, with one experiment extended to almost 29 h (1144-kg biomass fed) and one experiment interrupted by a process upset after just 7 h (411-kg biomass fed). Comprehensive analysis of collected gas, liquid, and solid products were used to calculate carbon balances (77% to 107%) for each experiment. The biocrude yield ranged from 12 to 18 wt % C and, in general, decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The average steady-state biocrude yield as a function of temperature translated to a biocrude production rate between 40 and 50 gallons per dry ton. The biocrude oxygen content varied between 21 and 31 wt %, on a dry basis, and as expected, decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The identified components in the semivolatile biocrude products are mostly methoxyphenols and other multiphenolic compounds. The multiphenolic compounds are demethoxylated at pyrolysis temperatures above 500 °C, producing biocrudes with higher concentrations of monophenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The concentration of anhydrosugars, like levoglucosan in the biocrudes, decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature from ∼15 to ∼1 vol %.

biofuels↗

CFD-DEM Modeling of Autothermal Pyrolysis of Corn Stover with a Coupled Particle- and Reactor-Scale Framework

Autothermal operation of fast pyrolysis is an efficient process-intensification technique wherein exothermic oxidation reactions are used to overcome the heat-transfer bottleneck of conventional pyrolysis. The development of accurate, reliable modeling toolsets is imperative to generating a deeper understanding of biomass autothermal pyrolysis systems to support scale-up and industrial deployment. This modeling effort describes the development of single-particle and reactor models which incorporate detailed reaction schemes and simultaneous exothermic oxidation reactions. The particle-scale model was parameterized for corn stover feedstock with particle morphology, density, ash content, and biopolymer composition, all of which impact the emergent conversion characteristics during pyrolysis. Results were then used to parameterize a reactor-scale autothermal pyrolysis model, which was developed using a coarse-grained computational fluid dynamic-discrete element method. The simulation results compared well with experimental results, with the predicted bio-oil, light gas, and biochar yield within 3.0 wt% of the experimental yields. Further analyses were performed to test the influence of equivalence ratio, biomass injection position, and particle size distribution on autothermal pyrolysis. The analysis of the physio-chemical properties of the fluid and solid phase inside the reactor and at the reactor outlet help reveal important process interactions of autothermal pyrolysis.

BIOMASS FUELS,INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND AN↗

Chapter 11: Biochar Production

In production of biochar, thermochemical processes that can be used to treat biomass include pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal processing, and combustion. Each of these processes is defined by specific operating conditions (e.g., temperature, presence of oxygen) and feedstock requirements for optimal conversion to the product of primary interest. Each process results in varying fractions of gaseous, liquid, and solid products. Though other publications have emphasized the gaseous bio-energy products of such processes (e.g., bio-oil, synthesis gas or "syngas") with biochar as a co-product, in this discussion, we focus primarily on biochar as the In production of biochar, thermochemical processes that can be used to treat biomass include pyrolysis, gasification, hydrothermal processing, and combustion. Each of these processes is defined by specific operating conditions (e.g., temperature, presence of oxygen) and feedstock requirements for optimal conversion to the product of primary interest. Each process results in varying fractions of gaseous, liquid, and solid products. Though other publications have emphasized the gaseous bio-energy products of such processes (e.g., bio-oil, synthesis gas or "syngas") with biochar as a co-product, in this discussion, we focus primarily on biochar as the main product, with heat and electrical energy as co-products of secondary interest. The reasons for this are as follows: when producing biochar, heat is the simplest form of energy to capture and utilize, electrical energy can be generated from heat energy with a wide range of available technologies small and large; rather than immediately combusting the gases released from biomass, there is potential to refine the gases into bio-oil and syngas. However, much larger investments of capital are needed to build facilities for which gaseous fuel production is the primary goal, as compared to those focused on biochar production with heat and electrical energy co-products. While the economic viability of biochar production will be improved by production of high-value co-products (e.g., wood acids for use in pesticides), the simplest production scheme is one in which biochar and heat are the primary products. Here we aim to provide a broader overview of thermochemical processes and technologies most relevant to biochar production in its current state of commercialization. All biochar is a result of pyrolysis (the reaction) but not all biochar is made with a dedicated pyrolysis reactor (the technology type). Further, all biochar is the result of a lack of complete combustion (the reaction), even biochar produced in a combustion or gasification reactor (the technology type). This is an important distinction to acknowledge in the following sections in which we discuss both thermochemical conversion reactions and technology types.

biochar↗

In-situ measurement of pyrolysis and combustion gases from biomass burning using swept wavelength external cavity quantum cascade lasers

Broadband high-speed absorption spectroscopy using swept-wavelength external cavity quantum cascade lasers (ECQCLs) is applied to measure multiple pyrolysis and combustion gases in biomass burning experiments. Two broadly-tunable swept-ECQCL systems were used, with the first tuned over a range of 2089-2262 cm -1 (4.42 – 4.79 µm) to measure spectra of CO 2 , H 2 O, and CO. The second was tuned over a range of 920-1150 cm -1 (8.70 – 10.9 µm) to measure spectra of ammonia (NH 3 ), ethene (C 2 H 4 ), and methanol (MeOH). Absorption spectra were measured continuously at a 100 Hz rate throughout the burn process, including inhomogeneous flame regions, and analyzed to determine time-resolved gas concentrations and temperature. The results provide in-situ, dynamic information regarding gas-phase species as they are generated, close to the biomass fuel source.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

Impacts of Biomass Feedstock Pre-Processing on Heat and Mass Transfer During Pyrolysis Using X-Ray Computed Tomography and Multiscale Modeling

Knowledge of the transport properties of biomass particles such as porosity, tortuosity, and permeability is paramount for high-fidelity modeling of biomass pyrolysis due to the heat and mass transfer limitations imposed by particle microstructure. X-ray computed tomography (XCT) is a non-destructive imaging method that enables full 3D reconstructions of the biomass particle microstructure with high resolution, permitting direct calculation of porosity, tortuosity, and permeability from real particle geometries. In this study, XCT imaging revealed the 3D microstructures of particles and chars from pyrolytic conversion of cylindrically cut or milled/pelletized loblolly pine samples. The porosity, tortuosity, and permeability were calculated directly from the XCT geometries via open-source microstructural analysis tool MATBOX+TauFactor (https://github.com/NREL/MATBOX_Microstructure_analysis_toolbox) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using our solver, Mesoflow (https://github.com/NREL/mesoflow). These properties were used in a reactor scale model developed in COMSOL of the single particle reactor at NREL to investigate the impact of feedstock pre-processing on biomass conversion during pyrolysis with rigorous experimental validation.

biomass↗

Understanding Biomass and Polymer Feedstock Variability Through Analytical Pyrolysis and Two Dimensional Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry

Moving toward a circular carbon economy requires enabling reuse of carbon-based macromolecules like those in biomass and polymers. Meeting this goal requires increased upcycling of waste products into higher value products. For biomass waste such as corn stover, pine needles, or bark, one approach is using pyrolysis to convert these feedstocks into bio-oil that can be used for liquid fuel or transformed into other hydrocarbon based products, like bio-polymers. Waste plastics can be upcycled or recycled into new products, or alternatively converted into bio-oil by pyrolysis. Macromolecules from biomass and polymers are challenging to convert into liquid fuel or chemical feedstocks, due to large and sometimes heterogeneous networks of polymeric bonds. We work with the Idaho National Laboratory’s Biomass Feedstock National User Facility and Department of Energy’s Feedstock Conversion Interface Consortium to develop a molecular understanding of biomass variability that occurs naturally and as a result of storage or preprocessing techniques applied to feedstocks, to understand chemical reactions occurring during pyrolysis and other biomass or polymer conversion techniques. Using two dimensional gas chromatography mass spectrometry coupled to analytical pyrolysis provides insight into the molecular changes that occur during the pyrolysis event, and these insights can extend to bench or pilot scale pyrolysis conversions. Understanding pyrolysis of biomass and polymers at a molecular level contributes to development of new tools to predict and manipulate the optimum conditions and identify the best storage, preprocessing, and conversion techniques to maximize output of specific high-value chemical species in the conversion to fuels, or to characterize feedstocks for blending before pyrolysis. Identification and understanding of the molecular level changes resulting from novel preprocessing techniques that can be used to control and manipulate the chemical output of bench or pilot scale pyrolysis is another focus of investigation, including the use of gamma irradiation, acid, or enzyme pre-treatments. We also focus on the impacts of storage conditions and techniques, which can affect moisture levels, degradation, and impacts from naturally occurring microbes in the environment.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗