Pyrolysis Reactor Design

Pyrolysis reactors are often custom-engineered due to many variables that impact the design process.  Economic factors such as feedstock selection, targeted end products, capacity, and build site limitations must be considered when selecting a particular reactor design.  Primary technical considerations include biomass particle size, operating temperature, solid and gas residence times, reaction rates, heat transfer limitations, and interaction with construction materials.

Historically, there have been several reactor designs and variations, including:

Bubbling Fluidized Beds pass a fluid through a granular material (e.g., sand) at high velocities.  The injected biomass receives heat from the fluidized media, efficiently targeting specific chemical reactions.  These systems often target high liquid yields.

Circulating Fluidized Beds operate similarly to bubbling fluidized beds, except the system re-circulates the granular material and biomass through the reactor and ancillary separation systems.

Augers used as reactors convey the solids via a screw while transferring heat to pyrolyze the biomass.  Solid char is captured at the end of the screw. At the same time, vapors are separated and carried overhead to ancillary systems to condense the vapor stream or further process to alternative end products.

Multiple Hearth transport biomass through several zones while transferring heat to pyrolyzed biomass.  As the solid travels downward through the reactor, vapors are removed while converting the biomass to biocarbon.  This technology often utilizes larger particle-sized biomass.

In addition, several other pyrolysis technologies are in practice, such as microwave pyrolyzers, free fall reactors, cone reactors, ablative systems, and molten salt heat carriers.  Due to the many variables, pyrolysis development does not lend itself to an off-the-shelf, universal pyrolysis reactor design. Because of this industry limitation, it is critical that a pyrolysis reactor design expert is involved in the technical and economic evaluation and design of proposed systems.  LEC Partners has expert consultants available to provide technical and economic evaluations on suitable reactor solutions for various customer systems.

Partner with LEC for Pyrolysis Success

At LEC Partners, we are dedicated to helping businesses of all sizes achieve sustainable and successful outcomes. Whether you’re a startup or a multinational company, our community of world-renowned bioeconomy experts has the experience and expertise to guide you to success.

Why Choose LEC Partners?

• Unmatched Bioeconomy Expertise: As trusted leaders in the bioeconomy, we deliver sustainable and profitable results, guiding projects from planning to execution.
• Customized Teams: Your project is unique, and so is our approach. We assemble a custom team to meet your specific needs, whether you require one expert or many.
• Streamlined Communication: No matter the size of your project team, you will always have a single point of contact for seamless coordination and communication.
• Comprehensive Services: Beyond engineering, operational, and financial guidance, we offer additional services like regulatory support and expert witness testimony, to ensure you are covered from every angle.

Ready to Transform Your Pyrolysis Business?

Take the next step and partner with us to shape the future of Pyrolysis. Contact us today to learn how our community of over 180 bioeconomy experts can help you achieve your goals.

See also: Pyrolysis Processes and Pyrolysis Technology & Tire Processing.