Process Optimization of Fast Pyrolysis Reactor for Converting Forestry Wastes into Bio-Oil with the Taguchi Method

A novel fast pyrolysis reactor for converting biomass (agriculture and forestry wastes) into bio-oil developed by the authors was used in this study. Taguchi experimental design method and the SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) multiple regression analysis software were employed to analyze the effects of some selected key process parameters, including the size of the feedstocks, the pyrolysis temperature and the feed rate (rotational speed of the screw extruder), on the maximum yield of the bio-oil produced from forestry wastes(camphor tree). The results show that the optimal operation conditions for attaining the highest yield of bio-oil (60.2%) are: 3.35mm grain size - 40rpm screw extruder rotational speed - 500 oC pyrolysis temperature. In addition, when larger grain sizes are used, higher feed rates are required to achieve peak bio-oil yields. As a result, a significant increase M productivity can be expected. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Conference ESIAT2011 Organization Committee.