Studies on a Solar Heated Packed Bed Pyrolysis Reactor for Bio-Oil Production

A packed bed, annular finned reactor heated at the focus of a solar parabolic concentrator, for intermediate pyrolysis of biomass to produce bio-oil was conceived. When tested on heating in the absence of air by oxyacetylene flame, it was found capable of rapid decomposition of the powdery biomass, and production and condensation of a liquid product. Further refinements needed to make it a workable solar powered reactor are identified from these trials.