Gaseous components from pyrolysis—Characteristics, production and potential for energy utilization

• A pilot-scale system is used to thermally process rubber, biomass, and brown coal.
• Focus is on the suitability of the gaseous products for energy production.
• Physical and combustion characteristics are considered.
• Pyrolysis gas produced from rubber is comparable with natural gas.
• Pyrolysis gas is utilizable for power generation.

This article is focused on a complex evaluation of the process gas produced within an experimental pilot-scale system which thermally processes input materials by a form of pyrolysis. The Pyromatic system is a unique device. Its originality consists in its ability to continually process secondary organic raw materials. Within the Czech Republic, it does not have any parallel to its power output (it can process up to 150 kg of input material per hour) and its design.The presented results and conclusions show the product yield and characteristics of the gaseous product from this system with regard to a selected input material and process conditions. Three kinds of material were chosen for pyrolysis—biomass, brown coal, and rubber. Attention was especially focused on the gas quality related to energy and its combustion characteristics. The aim was to introduce all important characteristics (gross calorific value, flammability limit, propagation rate, Wobbe index, combustion potential, etc.) that adumbrate the possibilities and potential of this gas utilization in the power industry.