National Conference on Non-Conventional Energy for

Sustainable Growth
RVS College of Eng. & Technology, July 29-30, 2016

Numerical Simulation of Pyrolysis of A

Cylindrical Wooden Dowel
Prof. R.V. Sharma
Department of Mechanical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur
Email: rvsharma.me@nitjsr.ac.in

OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION
2. MATHEMATICAL MODELING
3. NUMERICAL SCHEME
4. RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
5. CONCLUSIONS

1 : INTRODUCTION
1.1 World Energy Overview

Figure 1.1: Worlds energy supply by energy source. Adapted

from IEA, 2011

1.2 Wood as Energy Source

Wood is considered as one of the most important energy

sources. Direct energy recovery from wood as thermal energy
is obtained by combustion. To enable the efficient and
successful use of wood as fuel, a greater understanding of the
combustion and pyrolysis process is required.
Composition of Wood:

The major constituents of wood are:

1. CELLULOSE (50%)
2. HEMICELLULOSES (25%)
3. LIGNIN (25%)

Wood Compared to Coal

operties

nsity (dry fuel)(kg/m3)

gher Heating Value (kJ/g)
atiles (wt% of dry fuel)
ability
ticle size
h (wt% of dry fuel)
wt% of dry fuel)
wt% of dry fuel)
wt% of dry fuel)
wt% of dry fuel)
wt% of dry fuel)

Wood

~570
19.4-22.3
81-87
Low
~3mm
0.2-1.35
49-52
5.4-7.0
40-44
0.00-0.35
0.00-0.07

Coal

~1500
23-34
16.0-35.0
High
~100m
6.0-23.3
65-85
3.1-5.6
3.4-13.8
0.9-1.6
0.4-4.3

1.3 Pyrolysis:
Pyrolysis is essentially the thermal decomposition of organic

matter under inert atmospheric conditions or in a limited

supply of air, leading to the release of volatiles and formation
of char.
Inert atmosphere

Wood Char + Volatiles

T>350C

Three products of pyrolysis are:

1. GAS
2. PYROLYSIS OIL
3. CHARCOAL

Pyrolysis with Respect to Temperature:

The overall process of pyrolysis of wood is believed to proceed
as follows.

At around 160oC the removal of all moisture (dehydration) is

complete.

Over the temperature range 200oC to 280oC, all the

hemicellulose decomposes, yielding predominantly volatile
products such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and
condensable vapors.
From 280oC to 500oC the decomposition of cellulose picks up
and reaches a peak around 320oC. The products are again
predominantly volatiles.
The decomposition rate of lignin increases rapidly at
temperatures beyond 320oC. This is accompanied by a

Importance of Pyrolysis:

Pyrolysis is the first stage in any thermal treatment of

biomass and its kinetics and products have a crucial influence
on gasification and incineration.

The process is used heavily in the chemical industry, for

exampleTo produce charcoal
To produce coke from coal
To convert biomass into gas and char
To turn waste into safely disposable substances
For transforming medium-weight hydrocarbons from oil into
lighter ones like gasoline.

o
o
o
o
o

In mass spectrometry and in carbon-14 dating.

Pyrolysis has been assumed to take place during catagenesis,

the conversion of buried organic matter to fossil fuels.

2: MATHEMATICAL MODELING
L

r
z
Ro

Fig. 2.1: Physical model and coordinate system of cylindrical

wooden dowel

The
physical model is cylindrical wood of length L, external radius R 0
having initial density oand initially at temperature To, subjected to
furnace temperature.

Governing Equations
Heat conduction equation:

(2.1)

Where G is the heat of reaction.

Kinetics

equation(first order):
(2.2)

Where E is the activation energy and is velocity constant.

Initial condition:
T(r, z, 0) = T0for 0 r R0 & 0 z L
(r,z,0) = 0 for 0 r R0 & 0z L

(2.3)

Boundary

conditions:
for 0 z L

for 0 z L
for 0 r
for 0 r

(2.4)

Fractional

Weight Loss (FWL)

Fractional weight loss is the ratio that signifies the amount of volatile
evaporated from wooden dowel at any time. It is the ratio of mass of
evaporated volatile material to the mass of wooden dowel before
inserting it into the furnace.
FWL

(2.5)

The value of the term can be calculated using Simpsons one third
rule.

3: NUMERICAL SCHEME
Governing equations are first expressed in finite difference form.

Explicit Scheme
The basic philosophy of this method is to predict the approximate
value of the variable at internal points. The computation process
involve point by point evaluation in the (k+1)thtime level using the kth
time level.
Heat conduction equation:

= + + +
+G

(3.1)

Kinetics equation:
(3.2)

Stability criteria
(3.3)

Initial Condition
T = To For 0m and 0n
= 0 For 0m and 0n

(3.4)

Boundary conditions:

For 0n

For 0n

For 0m

(3.5)

For 0m

4: RESULTS & DISCUSSION

Unsteady state conduction of heat in cylindrical wooden dowel is
characterized by following properties of white fir wood.
Table 4.1 : Properties of white fir wood
Properties
Value
Reference
Heat of reaction (G)
G=-255 kJ/kg
C. A. Koufopanos, N.
Papayannakos, et al.[10]
Specific heat of wood
C = 1112.0+4.85()
C. A. Koufopanos, N.
(C)
Papayannakos,
[10]
Papayannakos, et
et al.
al.[10]
Density of wood ()

Edward J. Kansa, Henry E.

Perlee et al. [6]

Density of charcoal ()

Edward J. Kansa, Henry E.

Perlee et al. [6]

Thermal
Thermal conductivity
conductivity
of
of wood
wood (k)
(k)

K
K=
= 0.1256
0.1256 W/mK
W/mK

H.
H. C.
C. Kung[4]
Kung[4]

Properties

Value

E. Roy Tinney [3]

Velocity constant ()
Convective heat
transfer coefficient (h)
Thermal diffusivity ()

Reference

h=(0.0189T+7.26)1W/m2K

E. Roy Tinney [3]

E. Roy Tinney [3]

Grid Sensitivity and Validation

Table 4.2: Grid sensitivity test for wooden dowel of 100mm length and
20mm radius for furnace temperature 350oC at t=120 s.
Sr.
Grid size
Parameter (Center
%
No.

point Density)

Differen

206.79

ce
-

261.76

21%

311.62

16%

350.14

11%

372.49

6%

380.10

2%

383.16

0.8%

Effect of Furnace Temperature

he center temperature of a wooden dowel of 100 mm length and 20 mm radius

plotted for furnace temperature 350, 500 and 600oC respectively.

Fig 4.1: Variation in center point temperature for furnace

temperature 350oC

Fig 4.2: Variation in center point temperature for furnace

temperature 500oC

Fig 4.3: Variation in center point temperature for furnace

temperature 600oC

Temperature Profile

(a)

(b)

Fig. 4.4 Isotherms of wooden dowel when furnace temperature is 350 oC at

(a) t=0 s, (b) t=60 s

Temperature Profile

(a)

(b)

Fig. 4.5 Isotherms of wooden dowel when furnace temperature is 500oC at

(a) t=0 s, (b) t=60 s

Density Profile

(a)

(b)

Fig. 4.6 Density variation inside the wooden dowel when furnace temperatur
is 350oC at
(a) t=0s, (b) t=100 s

Density Profile

(a)

(b)

Fig. 4.7 Density variation inside the wooden dowel when furnace temperatu
is 500oC at
(a) t=0 s, (b) t=60 s

Fig 4.8: Center point density variation for different furnace temperature

Fig. 4.9: Fractional Weight Loss (FWL) with respect to time for different
furnace temperatures

Effect of Thermal Anisotropy (k*= kz/kr)

1. Wood possesses anisotropic properties. The word anisotropy implies to
the material exhibiting different values of property in different
directions. The values of wood properties, for example thermal
conductivity and permeability change along the grain direction and
perpendicular to the grain direction.
2. The anisotropic nature of wood with respect to its grain direction can
have a significant effect on the heat of reaction, presumably through
directional differences in the thermal conductivity and gas permeability
of wood and char.
3. To plot the effect of anisotropy, a thermal conductivity ratio (k *) has
been introduced here. It is the ratio of thermal conductivity in grain
direction (axial direction kz) to the thermal conductivity in perpendicular
to the grain direction (radial direction kr).

Fig. 4.10: Variation in center point temperature for furnace temperatu

o

Fig. 4.11: Variation in center point temperature for furnace temperature

500oC

Fig. 4.12: Variation in center point temperature for furnace temperatur

600oC

Fig. 4.13: Center point density variation when furnace temperature is

o

Fig. 4.14: Fractional Weight Loss with respect to time for furnace
o

Fig. 4.15: Fractional Weight Loss with respect to time for furnace
temperature 500oC

Fig. 4.16: Fractional Weight Loss with respect to time for furnace
o

Effect of Aspect Ratio (AR = L/RO)

Fig. 4.17: Variation of FWL for wooden dowels of different AR for furnace
temperature 350oC

5: Conclusions
5.1 Conclusions
1. Mathematical model for two dimensional unsteady heat conduction and
first order chemical kinetics for pyrolysis of a cylindrical wooden dowel
has been developed.
2. Explicit scheme has been successfully employed to obtain numerical
solution for wide range of parameters and validated with the
experimental results available in the literature.
3. As furnace temperature increases, rate of pyrolysis of wooden dowel
increases.
4. For thermal anisotropy, as the conductivity ratio (k *) increases, the rate
of pyrolysis increases.
5. As the Aspect Ratio (AR) increases, the rate of pyrolysis decreases.
6. There is significant effect of furnace temperature, thermal anisotropy and
aspect ratio on temperature and density profile.

REFERENCES
1. W. D. Weatherford, JR., D. M. Sheppard, 1965,Basic studies of the
mechanism of ignition of cellulosic materials, Tech. symposium
(International) on combustion, pp. 897-910.
2. P. L. Blackshear, JR. and K. A. Murty, 1965, Heat and mass transfer to,
from, and within cellulosic solids burning in air, Tenth symposium
(International) on combustion, pp. 911-923.
3. E. Roy Tinney, 1965,The combustion of wooden dowel in heated air,
Tenth Symposium on comnustion, pp. 925-930.
4. H. C. Kung, 1972, A mathematical model of wood pyrolysis,
Combustion and flame18, pp. 185-195.
5. Key miyanami, Liang-shih fan, L. T. Fan, W. P. Walawender, 1977,A
mathematical model for pyrolysis of a solid particle effects of the heat
of reaction, The Canadian journal of chemical engineering,Vol.55,
pp.317-325.
6. Edward J. Kansa, Henry E. Perlee and Robert F. Chaiken, 1977,
Mathematical model of wood pyrolysis including internal forced
convection, Combustion and Flame 29, pp. 311-324.
7. D. L. Pyle and C. A. Zarore, 1984, Heat transfer and kinetics in the low
temperature pyrolysis of solids, Chemical Engineering Science Vol. 39,
No. 1, pp. 147-158.

8. Wai Chun R. Chan, Marcia Kelbon and Barbara B. Krieger,

1985,Modelling and experimental verification of physical and chemical
processes during pyrolysis of a large biomass particle, FUEL, Vol.64,
pp.1505-1513.
9. Ravindra K. Agrawal, 1988,Kinetics of reactions involved in pyrolysis of
cellulose and the modified Kilzer Broido model, The Canadian journal of
chemical engineering, Vol.66, pp. 413-418.
10.C. A. Koufopanos, N. Papayannakos, G. Maschio, A. Lucchesi, 1991,
Modelling of the pyrolysis of biomass particles. Studies on kinetics,
thermal and heat transfer effects. The Canadian journal of chemical
engineering, Vol.69, pp. 907-915.
11.Colomba Di Blasi, 1993,Modelling and simulation of combustion
processes of charring and non-charring solid fuels, Prog. Energy
combusti. sci., Vol.19, pp. 71-104.
12.V. Novozhilov, B. Moghtaderi, D. F. Fletcher and J. H. Kent,
1996,Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of Wood Combustion,
Fire Safety Journal Vol.27, pp. 69-84.
13.Colomba Di Blasi, 1996, Influences of model assumptions on the
predictions of cellulose pyrolysis in the heat transfer controlled regime,
Fuel Vol.75, No.1, pp. 58-66.

15.R. Yuen, R. Casey, G. De Vahl Davis and E. Leonardi, G. H. Yeoh, V.

Chandrasekaran and S. J. Grubtis, 1997 A three dimensional
mathematical model for the pyrolysis of wet wood, Fire safety
science proceedings of the fifth international symposium, pp. 189200.
16.Colomba Di Blasi, 1998, Physio-chemical processes occurring inside a
degrading two dimensional anisotropic porous medium, International
journal of heat and mass transfer Vol.41, pp. 4139-4150.
17.J. Larfeldt, B. Leckner, M. C. Melaaen, 2000, Modelling and
measurements of the pyrolysis of large wood particles, Fuel Vol.79,
pp. 1637-1643.
18.Marten G. Gronli, Morten C. Melaaen, 2000, Mathematical model for
wood pyrolysis comparison of experimental measurements with
model predictions, Energy and Fuels Vol.14, pp. 791-800.
19.Kenneth M. Bryden, Kenneth W. Ragland, Christopher J. Rutland,
2002,Modelling thermally thick pyrolysis of wood, Biomass and
Bioenergy, Vol.22, pp. 41-53.
20.Thomas Willner and Gerd Brunner, 2005, Pyrolysis kinetics of wood
and wood components, Chemical Engineering Technology, Vol.28,
No.10, pp.1212-1225.
21.J. Porteiro, J. L. Miguez, E. Granada, J. C. Maran , 2006, Mathematical

22.Enrico Grieco, Giancarlo Baldi, 2011, Analysis and modeling of wood

pyrolysis, Chemical Engineering Science, Vol.66, pp.650-660.
23.M. Y. L. Chew, Ngoc Quynh An Hoang and Long Shi,2011, Pyrolysis of
tropical hardwood under long term and low temperature conditions,
International Journal on Architectural Science, Vol.8, No.1, pp. 17-27.
24.Said Seif Salim, Estomith S. Massawe, Oluwale Daniel Makinde, 2012,
Modelling the pyrolysis and combustion of wood, J. Math. Comput. Sci.
Vol.2, No.3, pp.702-724.
25. K. Krishna Prasad and P. Verhaart, 1983, Wood heat for cooking,
Macmillan India Press

THANKS