1. Amir Ahmadi
Mentor: Dr. Tyler Berkley Mark
Morehead State University
Woody Biofuels:
• Kentucky has 11.6 million acres of
timberland
• Yellow-poplar is native and common in
Eastern Kentucky
Production Process:
Conclusions:
Focus:
Estimate the profitability of bio-oil via process
parameters, particle size, wood
characteristics1,2
Assumptions:
• Spherical yellow poplar wood particles with
uniform characteristics
• Particle gaseous volume fraction calculated
by trapezoidal rule
• Two-second particle residence time
Key Equations:
Enthalpy Balance
Wood Mass Balance
Char Mass Balance
Oil Component
Diffusion
Revenue :
Radius (m)
Time (s)
Density(kg/m3)
Change in Wood Density
Radius (m)
Time (s)
Density(kg/m3)
Change in Char Density
Radius (m)
Time (s)
Density(kg/m3)
Change in Oil Density
Radius (m)
Time (s)
Density(kg/m3)
Change in Gas Density
During fast pyrolysis, densities of products increase rapidly as wood
density decreases, which models expected physical reaction.
Revenue equivalence table follows.
• Under current market conditions flash pyrolysis
using yellow poplar is not profitable
• Sensitivity analysis — Arrhenius constants,
activation energy, reactor temperature, and
initial wood density are the most important
parameters
• Further work: more stable solver, integration of
volume, particle gaseous volume fraction into
the model, stochastic prices, and additional
feedstocks
• Utilizes circulating fluidized beds and fast
pyrolysis
References:
1Luo, et al. “A model of wood flash pyrolysis in fluidized bed reactor,” Renewable Energy, vol. 30, pp.
377-392, 2005.
2Palma, et al. "Economic Feasibility of a Mobile Fast Pyrolysis System for Sustainable Bio-crude Oil
Production." International Food and Agribusiness Management Review 14.3 (2011). Web. 14 Sept.
2011.
Profit:
Yellow poplar is used to estimate the current cost and revenue
of a fast pyrolysis system. The bio-oil from a fluidized bed
reactor is estimated via chemical and kinetic equations. Costs
and revenue are then represented by the direct costing method.
Conclusions shed light on possible applications for the Kentucky
wood market.
Abstract:
•2Agrichar value is based on crude oil Btu equivalence
•Bio-oil assumes 5% discount from avg. 2011 crude oil price
($85.74/barrell)
•Profit per metric ton of wood input
•At current prices, yellow poplar bio-oil
production is not seen as profitable
•Given model assumptions, yellow poplar bio-
oil production revenue equals variable cost
when crude oil price is $575.81/metric ton
•Profit could be improved potentially with a
different feedstock
•Only variable costs are considered:
stumpage, labor, and transportation
•It is assumed that syngas from the process
is used in the reactor and no natural gas is
needed
Cost: