Simulation of Reaction Kinetics and Heat Transfer Effects on Product Yields from Fast Pyrolysis of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Biomass in Fluidized Bed Reactor

The present work aims to optimize the operating conditions for biofuel production from fast pyrolysis of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) biomass in a fluidized bed reactor. The coupled model of global reaction kinetics and heat transfer was applied to investigate the effects of operating conditions (reaction temperature in the range of 748-798 K, vapor residence time in the range of 0.5-2 s, and particle size in the range of 150-500 mu m) on the yields of products (liquid (bio-oil), gas, and char) and particle heat transfer of the OPEFB biomass fast pyrolysis. The simulation results of the present model validated the reported experimental data of the product yields of OPEFB biomass fast pyrolysis. The results showed that the maximum yield of high-quality liquid product was obtained at a vapor residence time of 1 s and a reaction temperature of 773 K. Moreover, the OPEFB particle size in the range of 300-350 mu m gave the highest yield of liquid product and the good heat transfer of particles. The optimum operating conditions from the simulation of the coupled model can be utilized for the experimental work of fast pyrolysis for different kinds of biomass in a fluidized bed reactor.