Experimental validation and CFD modeling study of biomass fast pyrolysis in fluidized-bed reactors

► We validated a CFD model for biomass fast pyrolysis in a lab-scale fluidized bed. ► Simulations achieve good quantitative agreement with experimental data. ► Particle size and gas velocity influence tar yield and residence time considerably. ► Reactor temperature is critical for product yields. ► The model is able to differentiate between feedstocks in terms of product yields.