This post addresses the crucial safety implications of handling tars in a live reactor, focusing on the practical rules that keep operators safe. This is a general safety guide. Assess the situation and choose appropriate PPE and actions based on your workplace’s procedures, local laws, and the risks involved. 1. Dangers of Tar Tars pose […]
Beyond the Chemistry: Critical Safety Rules for Handling Tars ⚠️ Read More »
Following up on my last post, let’s dive into the “why” behind the 65% reduction in GHG emissions. Here’s why wet milling makes the dryer so much more efficient: – Homogeneous Biomass: Wet milling prior to drying creates a more uniform biomass particle size. This consistency allows for a more optimized dryer design and settings,
GHG reduction of preprocessing biomass (2/2) Read More »
Optimising biomass preprocessing is a critical first step to unlocking the full potential of a pyrolysis unit. Today we are looking at a new study that looks into the GHG impact of wet and dry milling, the results quite interesting. 🧐 A recent study by Ou et al. (2023), conducted by the Feedstock Conversion Interface
GHG reduction of preprocessing biomass (1/2) Read More »
This guide breaks down common tar problems into three categories for effective diagnosis and solutions. 1. 🍃 Feedstock Consistency: The Process FoundationAn unstable feedstock is the most common cause of tar issues. A reactor is a finely tuned system, and any variation in inputs leads to an unpredictable output. – Inconsistent Moisture: Too much moisture
The Operator’s Guide to Tar: Troubleshooting in a Live Reactor Read More »
Last week, we unmasked tar as a complex mixture of molecular nightmares. Today, we’re diving into the core chemistry of steam reforming, revealing the intricate processes that clean up your syngas and optimize your pyrolysis process. Steam is not a bystander but a critical reactant. At high temperatures, the steam (H2O) molecules become highly reactive,
The Tar’s Demise: Diving Deeper into Steam Reforming Read More »
Last week, we explored how in-situ steam acts as a hero in biomass pyrolysis by reforming tars. But what exactly is this “tar” we are trying to reform? The common misconception is that tar is a single, uniform substance. In reality, it’s a complex and diverse mixture of hundreds of different organic compounds that are
The Tar Story: From Biomass Polymers to Molecular Nightmares Read More »
Last time, we revealed how biomass makes its own water during chemical dehydration. But that’s not the end of the story for that steam. It becomes a key player in in-reactor steam reforming reactions, shaping your final product mix and process efficiency. So, what is steam reforming and why is it so critical? Simply put,
The Pyrolysis Steam Story: From Dehydration to Reforming Read More »
Beyond just “drying,” what happens when biomass creates its own water during pyrolysis? Last week, we discussed the nuances of moisture content and its impact on heat transfer. This week, let’s peel back another layer and dive into chemical dehydration, a fascinating but often overlooked transformation that profoundly shapes your bio-oil, biochar, and syngas. Imagine
Beyond Drying: The Hidden Story of Chemical Dehydration in Biomass Pyrolysis Read More »
In biomass pyrolysis, the energy story begins with its moisture content. Last week, we discussed how “just dry it more” isn’t a magic bullet for biomass pyrolysis. Many of you shared valuable insights on optimising moisture content (MC), thanks for that. This week, let’s peel back a layer into one aspect of why MC is
Beyond Evaporation: The Deep Dive into Moisture and Heat Transfer in Pyrolysis Read More »
“Just dry it more” isn’t the magic solution everyone thinks it is for biomass pyrolysis. I was reading through some recent research on biomass thermal process optimisation, and it reminded me of a conversation I had last week. They were frustrated because their biochar yields were inconsistent, and their first instinct was to “just dry
Beyond “Just Dry It”: The Nuance of Moisture Content in Pyrolysis Read More »