Pyrolysis is a Hot Technology of the Future

Computers & TechnologyTechnology

  • Author Steve Evans
  • Published February 18, 2009
  • Word count 651

Pyrolysis could in future be useful to reduce landfills because it can be used to mine waste and burn it for energy, reducing the waste in landfills and reverse the rapid expansion of real estate being used to store garbage.

However, it is also unfortunately an expensive process to implement nowadays and for many cities is too expensive to take advantage of. Nevertheless, hyrolysis has progressed significantly in the processing of herbaceous materials as well as woody plants. In fast pyrolysis, the widely used fluid bed reactor is a relatively simple design with favorable heat transfer characteristics.

Pyrolysis rates for siloxane fluids are very sensitive to trace catalysts. Measurements of the global heat of gasification for ultra-clean polymers resulted in significantly higher values (3000 kJ/kg). Pyrolysis, often incorporating gasification, is a thermal process where organic materials in the waste are broken down under pressure and in the absence of oxygen. The process works best when the input waste is carbon-rich, preferably sorted or pre-sorted.

Pyrolysis can be used as a means of reducing scrap tires disposal problems. In this context it is defined as the degradation of the rubber of the tire using heat in the absence of oxygen.

Surprisingly some people are reporting on the web that they have chosen some unusual fuels for their pyrolysis experiments and they appear to be paying off. Pyrolysis of used frying oils, for example, seems to be one option for this attractive alternative as described in a recent US study. Until 2002, 80% of waste edible oils were discharge in sewers and only 20% were upgraded into high value chemicals or biofuel. Now the situation could be rapidly improved with less oil going to sewer if this technology becomes established..

Pyrolysis of biomass can be achieved by pyrolysis as well as by gasification. Such biomass is the main source of energy for a large number of small, rural, and cottage industries along with the majority of rural households. The majority of these enterprises belong to an unstructured sector and hence information and data on these industries are scarce.

Biomass also offers major environmental benefits. Initial applications will be with biomass residues generated in agro- and forest-product industries. Biomass fuels generally contain high levels of corrosive ash.

Pyrolysis technology as with gasification is becoming much more popular due to rising costs for landfilling. Costs are soaring for landfill, from current rates of about $25 per ton, and many are projecting that costs could soon rise to the $75 to $100 per ton range. Costs of the pyrolysis process will include the utilities, hydrogen feedstock, depletion of the catalyst, and in some situations, a reduction in the cracker operating rates in order to regenerate the catalyst.

Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of biomass occurring in the absence of oxygen. It is the fundamental chemical reaction that is the precursor of both the combustion and gasification processes and occurs naturally in the first two seconds. Pyrolysis is known for low emissions to the environment.

Pyrolysis is a process for thermal conversion of solid fuels in the complete absence of oxidizing agent (air/oxygen), or with such limited supply that gasification does not occur to any appreciable extent. Commercial applications are either focused on the production of charcoal or production of a liquid product, the bio-oil.

Pyrolysis consists in most process of applying high heat to organic matter (ligno-cellulosic materials) in the absence of air or in reduced air. The process can produce charcoal, condensable organic liquids (pyrolytic fuel oil), non-condensable gasses, acetic acid, acetone, and methanol.

Pyrolysis is considered to be one of the more feasible solutions that may be economically profitable at large scale and minimise mans impact on nature. The interest we hold in this process is centred on the fact that the products obtained by this process may be easily handled, stored and transported and they may be transformed in other units that are not near the recycling one.

Steve Evans is enthusiastic about gasification and other renewable energy sources from digesters of syngas . He also runs a great web site about dog breeds.

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Article comments

VISWAM
VISWAM · 15 years ago
very interesting and kindly send me more informations regarding the catalyst,and heat energy required to pyrolyse 1 ton of waste tyre

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