Energy

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis is the thermo-chemical decomposition of organic materials that is obtained through heat application, at a temperature between 400 and 800°C, in complete absence of any oxidizing agents, or with a very reduced quantity of oxygen (in this case it can be described as a partial gasification). The products of pyrolysis can be gaseous, liquid, solid and their proportions depend on the pyrolysis method (fast, slow or conventional) and reaction parameters. One of the main problems linked to the production of energy through pyrolysis is the quality of the products, which has not reached an adequate level in its applications, neither with gas turbines nor diesel engines. For the future, the cycles with pyrolytic oil seem to be more promising, especially for large installations, while diesel engines, that use pyrolysis products, seem to be more suitable for small installations. Direct combustion generally occurs inside equipment (boilers), where the heat is exchanged between combustion gases and process fluids (water, etc.).