Biomass pyrolysis: technologies and experiences in France

Team members:
Cynthia AU FONG SINE
Ikbale INANE
Yara SAAD
Gerardo PEÑA ZAMBRANO
Camille FERNANDES
Kenia CERQUEIRA SANTOS
Introduction
● Differents ways to use biomass:
○ Thermochemical process
○ Chemical/ Biochemical process
○ Biological process

● Pyrolysis:
○ Main thermal decomposition process of biomass
○ No oxygen
○ Endothermic process
○ Final product: Gas, bio-coal, bio-oil
 Where is the progress of Biomass pyrolysis in
France?
1. Advantages and Drawbacks of pyrolysis technology
2. The different types of pyrolysis used
3. Description of working principles ( reaction)
4. Technologies and experiences of biomass by bio pyrolysis in
France
Conclusions
 1. Advantages and Drawbacks
Advantages
- Economical and environmental
- Renewable resource
- Can use waste
- Pyrolysis of waste: less fumes
- Can easily become autothermic
process
- Less complex for the waste than
gasification
Drawbacks
- The waste should be
pretreated before being
uses
- The air in reactor can
cause explosion
- The method is little used
- Need much electricity
- Expensive compared to
burning
 2. The different type of pyrolysis used
❖ The torrefaction

- Slow heating rate

- Temperature rise to 200°
-320°
- Main objective: biomass
carbonization
- Result: bio coal
 2. The different type of pyrolysis used
❖ The slow pyrolysis

- Slow heating rate 10°C/s

- Temperature rise to
400-500°C
- Main objective: gases
and solid
- Results: bio oil, gases
and biochar
 2. The different type of pyrolysis used
❖ The fast pyrolysis - High heating rate 100°
C/s
- Short residence time
(<2s)
- Temperature rise to 400°
-650°C
- Main objective:
Condensation of
immediate liquid before
cracking
- Result: bio-oil
 2. The different type of pyrolysis used
❖ The flash pyrolysis
- High heating rate 500°C/s
- Very short residence time (<0,5s)
- Temperature rise to 700°-1000°C
- Main objective: the cracking of the high molecular weight
hydrocarbons
- Result: bio coal
 3.Description of working principles (reaction)

Fast pyrolysis with bio-oil as final product

First step: pre-treatment of the biomass

(depend of size and moisture)

Second step: the pyrolysis

Introduce the biomass in a reactor without oxygen or unwanted air

Pyrolysis produce gas or liquid products by organic substances

 3.Description of working principles (reaction)
Next step:

● Raw gases introduce in cyclone separator to remove

● Purified gasses quenched with cold water

● Recycling of no condensable gasses in combustor

Final step:

● Production of bio oil stored

● Bio oil can be transported

● Storage of bio oil

4.Technologies and experiences of biomass by bio
pyrolysis in France

➢ Biomass through direct combustion

➢ Biomass through methanisation

➢ Biomass through power plant: an exemplary partnership between the

Métropole of Lyon, ADEME and Dalkia
 CONCLUSION
❖ Reducing greenhouse gas emissions would be possible if we use more and
more renewable energies. The global deal for energy transition has put France
in a race to zero carbon emissions by 2050.

❖ Biomass as an important deposit of energy will be part of this strategy. The bio
pyrolysis process is very promising, but it’s important to know that has
advantages and drawbacks.

❖ In France, where biomass is the first source of renewable energy, the number
of project including pyrolysis increase, for examples Dalkia, a biofuel, bio
methane and biochar producer and ten others plants with pyrolysis in their
process.