An explicit finite-differences heat conduction model for slow pyrolysis time calculation

slow pyrolysis is one of the most common pyrolysis variations, traditionally used to obtain high yields of charcoal or syngas. Although this is a widely known and used method and its complex heat transfer and kinetics mechanisms are already deeply studied, there is no simple and direct method to calculate the time needed to pyrolize different kinds of biomass. This work aims at structuring a solid algorithm capable of predicting pyrolysis time inside a real scale tubular reactor through an explicit finite-differences heat conduction model. Bulk properties and simplifying assumptions are made to make possible to consider the whole biomass volume as a single solid with spatial temperature dependent properties calculated at every iteration. Numerical results are within expected and further works needed to validate the model are undergoing development.