New inverted cyclone reactor for flash hydropyrolysis

• The inverted cyclone could be an interesting application for gaseous catalytic reactions.
• In this study we present two examples of applying (naphta and biomass).
• Kinetics and fluid dynamics are discussed for both examples.
• The effect of operating variables on yield and quality were simulated.
• The results indicate that is possible to design a suitable auto-thermal (adiabatic) reactor.

Flash hydropyrolysis (that is, pyrolysis in a hydrogen atmosphere) is a term usually used to describe processes with reaction times of only several seconds or less. Flash hydropyrolysis is usually carried from atmospheric to 20 MPa pressure. The majority of the available techniques for carrying out these processes have been developed in coal pyrolysis studies and recently extended to the pyrolysis of biomass. The use of inverted cyclone type reactor developed in the 80s by Summer, Briens and Bergougnoud, among others, provides the advantage of a short residence time and high efficiency in the separation of the solid, as well as that the feed does not need to be preheated to the high temperature required by the reactions. This paper presents the simulation model for the reactor with optimal geometry for pyrolysis of naphtha and biomass. Kinetics and fluid dynamics are discussed for both examples and then the effect of operating variables on yield and quality were simulated. The main characteristic of this type of reactor are discussed for the two examples. The results indicate that in both cases (naphta and pyrolysis) can design a suitable reactor autothermal (it does not require heating wall).