(629ai) Design and Initial Testing of a Spouted-Bed Reactor for Biomass Catalytic Pyrolysis

Spouted-bed reactors are ideal for the
catalytic pyrolysis of biomass due to their ability to handle larger particles,
large particle size distributions, and differences in solid densities. They
also provide a good mixing and decouple residence times of gas and solids; thus,
gas residence times and unwanted secondary biomass reactions are reduced. In
this study, a bench-scale conical spouted-bed biomass catalytic reactor has
been designed, considering different particle properties, geometric factors and
important hydrodynamic parameters. The design analysis aimed at identifying gas
flows capable of generating a stable spouted-bed regime in the conical reactor,
while providing flexibility in the catalyst to biomass ratios that the unit can
handle.

The biomass reactor setup is shown in
Figure 1. It includes: 1) a conical quartz reactor with a gas distribution grid
at the bottom, 2) two biomass feeders providing the capability for batch and
continuous operation, 3) cooler and condenser for the separation of the liquid
products, weighing scale for real-time measurement of the liquid product yield,
4) filter capable of removing the remaining condensable liquid droplets and
fine solid particles, 5) liquid and gas collection systems and 6) a Fourier
Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer for real time gas composition analysis
and the simultaneous use of dynamic simulation and experimentation for the
analysis of reaction kinetics and process optimization. The reactor is capable
of converting lignocellulosic and other types of biomass to liquid fuels and/or
synthesis gas, using N₂, H₂O or CO₂ as the
fluidization gas. Figure 2 illustrates ranges of stable operation in the relevant
hydrodynamic regimes. The regime calculated for the reactor development
(red-colored area) demonstrates that conical spouted beds have a wide range of
operating regimes, which makes them ideal for the variability of biomass
density and particle diameter.

In this presentation, the applicability
of literature correlations on conical spouted bed reactors and the range of hydrodynamic
regimes in conical spouted-bed spouted conical fluidization will be shown.
Finally results of the biomass catalytic reactor initial testing and a
comparison of biomass pyrolysis selectivity under different catalyst to biomass
weight ratios, heating rates, and temperatures will be presented.