Effects of aspect ratio on char structure during the pyrolysis of sawdust pellet

Abstract

Char structure can reflect the pyrolysis characteristics and affect the efficiency of gasification and combustion processes, while biomass pellet size and shape are critical for the heat and mass transfer, which in turn influence greatly char structure. The aim of this study is to experimentally study and compare the effect of aspect ratio (diameter/length) on char structure during the pyrolysis of sawdust pellet. Cylindrical sawdust pellets with similar masses and volumes but different diameters (6, 8, 12, 16 mm) were pyrolysed at various temperatures. The chars were separated into two phases (liquid extraction, solid residue) via microwave-assisted extraction. Experimental results show that the pellet with a low aspect ratio had a large char yield because of intra-particle volatile-char interaction especially at low temperature, while there was an optimum aspect ratio due to the change of residence time. The pellet with a high aspect ratio had an intense polymerisation, resulting in the formation of fused aromatic rings in char and residue. By increasing aspect ratio, there was a lowest surface area. This means that less heat entered from surface, and low thermal conductivity caused a slow decomposition. Due to large heat and mass transfer residence, more aromatic molecules with small weight formed in extracts of char, especially at high temperature. Besides, an increase in temperature weakened the differences in structural features of the pellet char caused by different aspect ratios.