Problems Found in the Adaptation of a Fluid Cracking Catalytic Pilot Plant for Studying Second Generation Biofuel Production by Pyrolysis

• Main Authors: M.A.G. Figueiredo, F.L. Mendes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: AIDIC Servizi S.r.l. 2012-09-01
• Series: Chemical Engineering Transactions
• Online Access: https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/7112

As a means of reducing dependence on oil and mitigate climate change, the use of biomass as energy source has proven to be a promising option. The fuels produced from biomass are classified as first and second generation. The first-generation biofuels are mainly produced from sugar, starch and vegetable oil using conventional technologies, the most important in this segment are ethanol and biodiesel. Ethanol is produced from biomass such as sugarcane, beet sugar and starch crops (maize and wheat). The second-generation biofuels are produced from lignocellulosic biomass mainly consisting of agricultural waste, forestry and industrial. With the purpose of studying routes for the processing of lignocellulosic biomass was performed a survey of the main technology routes are opting for a pilot plant scale for assessing the conditions of processing via fast pyrolysis. The aim of this paper is to present the main operational problems and its alternatives taken to resolve them, recorded during the tests and pre-conditioning operation of the pilot. The test conditions were based on data identified in literature, namely, temperature: 450 – 550 °C, residence time: 0.5 to 5 s heating rate is too high. Preliminarily found that the pilot unit respond well to temperature changes but noted the need to systematically study the load power, addressed this point, there was a drop in efficiency associated with the formation of coke. Additional tests in progress aims to adjust the operating conditions, assess the difficulties to achieve the overall mass balance of the plant and initiate studies on the process itself.