The combustion of pyrolysis productswith air in sufficient supply (as
in a match) is termed “flaming combustion” [5]. We apply the term
“flaming pyrolysis” to the combustion of the same volatiles in an
inadequate supply of air so that the products are largely CO and H2
rather than CO2 and H2O. A tar burning gasifier consumes the tars by the
process called flaming pyrolysis. The time required for pyrolysis to
charcoal plus volatiles depends on the heat transfer rate and the amount
of charcoal produced. Bergstorm et al. [6] studied the drying, and initial
pyrolysis, and char gasification at different experimental conditions by
using a laboratory-scale furnace. Drying takes place from themoment a
fuel particle enters the furnace until the flaming pyrolysis starts. Flaming
pyrolysis is the simultaneous devolatilization and conversion to
charcoal. Char yield is the remaining material after the pyrolysis. The
flaming pyrolysis gasification reaction in solids is analogous to the
combustion of a gas and proceeds at a finite rate. In steady state gasifiers
the fuel is consumed at the same rate as the reaction progresses, so fuel
flow velocity is identical to reaction velocity.
The main purpose of the experiments is to study the flaming
pyrolysis and efficiency of the experimental gasifier during a gasification
process. The quality and quantity of long-stickwood being used and the
flaming pyrolysis time will be measured.