Bio-Oil Production of Napier Grass By Using Rotating Cylindrical Reactor

Abstract

This research investigated the production of bio-oil from Napier grass by using a rotating cylindrical reactor. The reactor system was comprised of a rotating cylindrical reactor measuring 8 inches in diameter, a heat generation system that used LPG as fuel, a blow-through rotary valve for the feeding system, a cyclone for the dust-separating system, and a 25°C water condenser system. The pyrolysis process for bio-oil production from Napier grass was performed at a rate of 22.5 kg/h of raw feeding materials and 8 rpm of reactor rotating speed. The superficial velocity was set at 8 m/sec, and the reaction temperature was established at between 500 - 520°C. From the experiment, it was found that the maximum yield of bio-oil production was 14.27% wt at 520°C of reactor temperature, while the char and non-condensable gas were at 3.40% wt and 82.33% wt, respectively. Furthermore, the results revealed that the production costs and cold efficiency of this system were 1.85 USD per kilogram of bio-oil and 18.55%, respectively.