Double Distribution Activation Energy Model as Suitable Tool in Explaining Biomass and Coal Pyrolysis Behavior

Paolo De Filippis, Benedetta De Caprariis, Marco Scarsella and Nicola Verdone
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Paolo De Filippis: Department of Chemical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Benedetta De Caprariis: Department of Chemical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Marco Scarsella: Department of Chemical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy
Nicola Verdone: Department of Chemical Engineering, Sapienza University of Rome, via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy

Energies, 2015, vol. 8, issue 3, 1-15

Abstract: Understanding and modeling of coal and biomass pyrolysis assume particular importance being the first step occurring in both gasification and combustion processes. The complex chemical reaction network occurring in this step leads to a necessary effort in developing a suitable model framework capable of grasping the physics of the phenomenon and allowing a deeper comprehension of the sequence of events. The aim of this work is to show how the intrinsic flexibility of a model based on a double distribution of the activation energy is able to properly describe the two separate steps of primary and secondary pyrolysis, which characterize the thermochemical processing of most of the energetic materials. The model performance was tested by fitting the kinetic parameters from experimental data obtained by thermogravimetric analysis of two materials, which represent very different classes of energy source: a microalgae biomass and a sub-bituminous coal. The model reproduces with high accuracy the pyrolysis behavior of both the materials and adds important information about the relative occurring of the two pyrolysis steps.

Keywords: pyrolysis; kinetic modeling; Distribution Activation Energy Model (DAEM); microalgae; biomass; coal (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: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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