Development of a Dual-Chamber Pyrolizer for Biochar Production from Agricultural Waste in Sri Lanka

W. A. M. A. N. Illankoon (), Chiara Milanese, Anurudda Karunarathna Karunarathna, A. M. Y. W. Alahakoon, Puhulwella G. Rathnasiri, Maria Medina-Llamas, Maria Cristina Collivignarelli and Sabrina Sorlini ()
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W. A. M. A. N. Illankoon: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering, and Mathematics (DICATAM), University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Chiara Milanese: Department of Chemistry & Center for Colloid and Surface Science, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Anurudda Karunarathna Karunarathna: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
A. M. Y. W. Alahakoon: Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya 20400, Sri Lanka
Puhulwella G. Rathnasiri: Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Bandaranayake Mawatha, Moratuwa 10400, Sri Lanka
Maria Medina-Llamas: Department of Chemistry & Center for Colloid and Surface Science, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 16, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Maria Cristina Collivignarelli: Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 3, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Sabrina Sorlini: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering, and Mathematics (DICATAM), University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25123 Brescia, Italy

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 4, 1-20

Abstract: This study investigates the design and development of a pyrolysis reactor for batch-type biochar production from rice husks. The main objective is to develop an appropriate technology to regulate pyrolysis temperature and biomass residence time that can be easily operated under field and household conditions with minimal operational and technical requirements. The designed novel dual-chamber reactor comprises two concentrical metal cylinders and a syngas circulation system. The outer cylinder is for energy generation and the inner one is for pyrolysis. Temperature profiles, energy exchanges, syngas production, and the physicochemical characteristics of biochar were obtained to determine the performance of the reactor. Different trials were carried out to obtain different pyrolysis temperatures under constant amounts of feedstock and fuel. The temperature was monitored continuously at three predetermined reactor heights, the temperature profile varied from 380 °C to 1000 °C. The biochar yield was 49% with an average production rate of 1.8 ± 0.2 kg h −1 . The reactor consumed 11 ± 0.1 kg of rice husk as feedstock and 6 ± 1 kg h −1 of wood as fuel. The gaseous products from the pyrolysis were CH 4 , CO 2 , H 2 , CO, and C n H m , which contributed 23.3 ± 2.3 MJ m −3 of energy as fuel for the pyrolysis process. The specific surface area of the biochar was 182 m 2 g −1 . The achieved operational capacity and thermal efficiency of the reactor show biochar production is a suitable option to convert discarded biomass into a value-added product that can potentially be used in several environmental applications.

Keywords: rice husk; pyrolysis reactor; pyrolysis; energy; agricultural residues; biochar; Sri Lanka; decarbonization; green technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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