Fast Pyrolysis Oil Applications in Combustion Systems
Summary
Fast pyrolysis oil, produced by rapid thermal decomposition of lignocellulosic biomass in the absence of oxygen, offers a renewable alternative to fossil fuels in diverse combustion technologies. Its high oxygen and water content and elevated acidity pose challenges for atomisation, flame stability and material compatibility. Research has focused on overcoming these limitations through tailored injector designs, fuel pre‐treatment and blending with conventional fuels. In gas turbines and industrial furnaces, modifications to spray nozzles and fuel lines enable stable operation at lower heating values. In compression‐ignition engines, partial substitution of diesel with upgraded pyrolysis oils can maintain power output while reducing net greenhouse gas emissions. Numerical modelling and chemical kinetics studies support design of combustion chambers optimised for multiphase, multicomponent fuels. Emerging applications include co‐firing in heavy‐fuel furnaces, drop‐in blends for spark ignition engines and potential use in maritime propulsion. Continued integration of experimental, modelling and materials research underpins the practical deployment of fast pyrolysis oil across scales, advancing decarbonisation goals and harnessing abundant biomass resources.
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Fast Pyrolysis Oil Applications in Combustion Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in fast pyrolysis oil applications in combustion systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Fast pyrolysis oil: Liquid product obtained by rapid heating of biomass in the absence of oxygen, rich in oxygenated organic compounds.
Atomisation: Process of breaking a liquid fuel into fine droplets to form a combustible spray.
Surrogate fuel: Simplified mixture of chemical species used to represent the complex composition of a real fuel in experiments and simulations.
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD): Numerical technique for solving fluid flow, heat transfer and chemical reactions within combustion systems.
References
- Effects of Pyrolysis Bio-Oils on Fuel Atomisation—A Review. Energies (2021).
- Co-Firing of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil and Heavy Fuel Oil in a 300-kWth Furnace. Applied Sciences (2016).
- Challenges and Opportunities in Fast Pyrolysis of Biomass: Part II. Johnson Matthey Technology Review (2018).
- CFD modeling of pyrolysis oil combustion using finite rate chemistry. Fuel (2021).
- Experimental investigation of naphthenic biofuel surrogate combustion in a compression ignition engine. Fuel (2022).
- Application of Upgraded Drop-In Fuel Obtained from Biomass Pyrolysis in a Spark Ignition Engine. Energies (2020).
- Perspective Use of Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil (FPBO) in Maritime Transport: The Case of Brazil. Energies (2021).
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