Biomass thermal conversion is one of the most efficient ways to convert biomass into biochemicals and biofuels. However, large-scale production of biochemicals and biofuels faces significant challenges. This work reports our recent efforts to model and simulate a pilot-scale biomass pyrolysis vapor phase upgrading (VPU) reactor within Consortium for Computational Physics and Chemistry (CCPC), a research collaboration of national laboratories for the U.S. DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office. The cold flow experimental tests were conducted at NREL to provide pressure and temperature data for CFD model validation. It is demonstrated that the CFD model could correctly simulate the multiphase flow hydrodynamics, heat transfer at different operating conditions in the VPU reactor. The validated model has been used to predict the RTD and provided input data for the development of the reduced order model. The validated model has also been coupled with the VPU kinetics to predict the reactor performance for a variety of operating conditions and will compare with reacting flow experimental data.

CFD simulation of hydrodynamics, RTD, heat transfer and chemical reaction in a pilot-scale biomass pyrolysis vapor phase upgrading (VPU) reactor

2019 Spring National Meeting

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