2D Model of a Biomass Single Particle Pyrolysis—Analysis of the Influence of Fiber Orientation on the Thermal Decomposition Process

Paulina Hercel (), Atahan Orhon, Michał Jóźwik and Dariusz Kardaś
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Paulina Hercel: Renewable Energy Department, Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, 80-231 Gdańsk, Poland
Atahan Orhon: Aerospace Engineering Department, Engineering Faculty, İzmir University of Economics, Izmir 35330, Turkey
Michał Jóźwik: Independent Researcher, 80-000 Gdańsk, Poland
Dariusz Kardaś: Renewable Energy Department, Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, 80-231 Gdańsk, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Understanding the influence of heat transfer on the pyrolysis process is crucial for optimizing industrial biofuel production processes. While numerous scientific studies focus on experimental investigations of pyrolysis using laboratory-scale devices, many neglect the essential role of thermal energy in initiating and controlling thermal decomposition processes. This study presents a transient two-dimensional numerical model of biomass single-particle pyrolysis, which includes the energy balance, mass conservation equations and pyrolysis gas pressure and velocity equations. The model employs explicit numerical methods to manage the high computational demands of 2D transient simulations, but is successfully validated with the use of experimental data found in the literature. The model reflects the heterogeneous structure of wood by using different thermal conductivity coefficients depending on the wooden fibers’ orientation. The results demonstrate the impact of fiber orientation on the heat transfer and thermal decomposition processes. The anisotropic properties of wood led to varied temperature fields and pyrolysis decomposition stages, aligning well with experimental data, thus validating the model’s accuracy. The proposed approach can provide a better understanding and lead to improvement in biofuel production processes, enabling more efficient and controlled conversion of biomass into fuel. By optimizing the pyrolysis process, it contributes to the development of sustainable energy preservation and regeneration methods, supporting a shift towards more sustainable fuel production patterns using renewable biomass resources like wood.

Keywords: biomass; wood; pyrolysis; thermal conversion; biofuels (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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