An Investigation of Synergistic Effect During Co-pyrolysis Of Coal and Pine Sawdust at Moderate Temperatures
Open Access
- Author:
- Snow, Robert Edward
- Graduate Program:
- Energy and Mineral Engineering
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- March 19, 2012
- Committee Members:
- Sarma V Pisupati, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
Yaw Yeboah, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor - Keywords:
- Coal
Biomass
Synergy
Pyrolysis - Abstract:
- An increasing population growth and the improvements made to the lifestyles of developing countries are leading to an ever increasing need for energy of all kinds. This increase in energy demand will also lead to an increase in the emissions generated by the current energy production methods. These facts combined with the depletion of the world’s available fossil fuels have led to a movement towards the increased use of renewable energy sources. This work focuses on the conversion of both a renewable fuel, Silver Maple sawdust, and a fossil fuel, Dietz subbituminous coal, into gaseous fuel. It is important to utilize a locally available biomass sample. Silver maple is a common woody biomass readily available in the northeastern United States. This study investigates the effects of co-utilization on the gaseous products of the pyrolysis process. Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential synergistic effect of adding biomass to coal during pyrolysis on the gaseous products. The objective was met by carrying out lab scale pyrolysis experiments in an electrical tube furnace. The feedstock consisted of 0%, 5%, 10%, 20% and 100% biomass. All feedstock blending combinations were heated to 700˚ C and 900˚ C in order to observe any effects of temperature on the synergistic effect of blending. It was observed that higher biomass concentration increase the quantity of syngas produced. The addition of this biomass species to this coal did not have a synergistic effect on the gaseous production of this process. While promoting hydrogen producing reactions such as methane reforming all effects observed were linear. There was no synergistic effect observed for the co-pyrolyzing of silver maple sawdust and Dietz subbituminous coal.