18. Flash pyrolyzers

a) Laboratory flash pyrolyzer I

Brand and model:Manufactured at UMAINE, USA.

Capacity:Approx. 1 g/min.

Description:This is a fast biomass pyrolysis plant equipped with a fluidized bed reactor, heated by a tubular furnace. The gas cleaning train includes a hot gas filter. The condensation system consists of a stainless steel condenser followed by an electrostatic precipitator. The feeding system includes a sealed hopper and a dosing screw that feeds a device from which the material is pneumatically conveyed into the reactor using nitrogen as the carrier gas.

b) Laboratory flash pyrolyzer II

Brand and model:In-house manufacturing.

Capacity:Approx. 500 g of polymer per test.

Description:The plastic pyrolysis plant operates in batch mode under vacuum and consists of the following parts:

A) Furnace (Maximum operating temperature: 1100 °C)

B) Pyrolyzer (Operating temperature: 400–600 °C)

C) Condensation system composed of an indirect contact condenser and a set of water traps designed to collect the solid and liquid products from the pyrolysis process.

c) Pilot flash pyrolyzer

Brand and model:In-house manufacturing.

Capacity:20 kg/hour of biomass.

Description:This fast pyrolysis plant uses proprietary technology developed by the Technological Development Unit. It consists of a system of three fluidized bed reactors in series: a bottom char combustion reactor, an intermediate fast pyrolysis reactor, and an upper preheating reactor. These are interconnected by a pneumatic system that allows for the recirculation of particulate material forming the beds. Additionally, the plant includes a hot vapor filtration system, a rapid cooling unit for organic vapors, and an electrostatic filter. The plant has a maximum processing capacity of 20 kg/h of biomass, achieving a pyrolytic liquid yield of 70% on a dry basis.