Peter Ciesielski, NREL, CO, USA
Pyrolysis is a pre-commercial thermochemical process that converts renewable, plant-based materials such as wood into liquid biofuels. To make pyrolysis a cost-effective method for biofuel conversion, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are using multiphysics simulation to better understand and optimize the process. Thus far, they have used COMSOL Multiphysics® to develop a computational model of the heat and mass transfer processes associated with pyrolysis, featuring the most accurate representation of biomass particle geometry to date. Ongoing development of the process involves adding chemical reactions and phase change to create a complete model of pyrolysis that can be used to improve the performance of large-scale reactors – an essential step in making the mass production of biofuels more efficient.
Suggested Stories
MRI Tumor-Tracked Cancer Treatment
Radiation therapy targeting in cancer treatment involves many uncertainties, including the movement of targeted sites ...
Simulation Apps Bring STEM to Life
While covering the required fundamental material in undergraduate academic programs is the top priority, students ...
Harmonizing Sound and Style in Open-Plan Offices
Open-plan offices offer a collaborative workspace environment. However, they also allow for frequent noise ...
Pushing the Limits of Chip Density
Chip manufacturers have been adhering to Moore’s law, a law stating that the number of transistors that can be ...
