ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The aim of this work is to present and discuss a detailed kinetic model able to describe the devolatilization process of solid fuels, under pyrolysis conditions. The major reason of this interest in a better understanding of pyrolysis and combustion of coal, biomasses and solid fuels lies in the increasing concern of the environmental impact of large-scale combustion processes. The common chemical and structural aspects of the different fuels are singled out and used as the starting point to define this mathematical model. The formation of light gases and liquid tars is the first step in the pyrolysis process. A particular attention is also devoted to the generality and flexibility of numerical and mathematical methods. Several comparisons with experimental data are analysed and the molecular weight distributions of the tar from different coals evolved at different temperatures are also discussed.
