Bioresource Technology, Vol.273, 439-445, 2019
A pilot-scale biomass pyrolytic poly-generation plant performance study and self-sufficiency assessment
This work studied the influence of pyrolysis temperature on the energy and mass balance of pyrolysis of rice husk (RH), cotton stalk (CS) and fruit branch (FB) in a pilot-scale biomass pyrolytic poly-generation plant. The paper presents energy balance and self-sufficiency assessment of pilot-scale pyrolysis plant processing different types of biomass. The results also include characterization of the pyrolysis products. The volatile matter varied from 6.5 to 25.8% at different temperatures for the three feed stocks, which can be used as indexes for the degree of carbonization of biochar. The yield of pyrolysis gases enriched with H-2, CH4 and other alkanes, and olefins increased significantly with increasing pyrolysis temperature from 550 to 650 degrees C. With a lower heating value > 17.1 MJ/m(3), an energy self-sufficient system is possible using only the pyrolysis gas. Biomass pyrolytic poly-generation technology offers a promising means of converting abundant agricultural residues into energy and added-value products.