A model for the oxidative pyrolysis of wood

A generalized pyrolysis model (Gpyro) is applied to simulate the oxidative pyrolysis of white pine slabs irradiated under nonflaming conditions. Conservation equations for gaseous and solid mass, energy, species, and gaseous momentum (Darcy’s law approximation) inside the decomposing solid are solved to calculate profiles of temperature, mass fractions, and pressure inside the decomposing wood. The condensed phase consists of four species, and the gas that fills the voids inside the decomposing solid consists of seven species. Four heterogeneous (gas/solid) reactions and two homogeneous (gas/gas) reactions are included. Diffusion of oxygen from the ambient into the decomposing solid and its effect on local reactions occurring therein is explicitly modeled. A genetic algorithm is used to extract the required material properties from experimental data at 25 kW/m2 and 40 kW/m2 irradiance and ambient oxygen concentrations of 0%, 10.5% and 21% by volume. Optimized model calculations for mass loss rate, surface temperature, and in-depth temperatures reproduce well the experimental data, including the experimentally observed increase in temperature and mass loss rate with increasing oxygen concentration.