Lattice Boltzmann modeling of biomass pyrolysis: Analysis of eucalyptus pyrolysis behavior and product formation mechanisms

Lignocellulosic biomass is a key renewable feedstock for low-carbon energy systems. An extended lattice Boltzmann framework is developed to investigate eucalyptus pyrolysis at the particle scale by coupling heat transfer, multicomponent mass transport, and a multi-step reaction network with temperature-dependent properties. Model predictions agree well with experimental data. Compared with maple under identical conditions, eucalyptus exhibits faster heating and devolatilization due to its lower density and higher thermal diffusivity, leading to increased tar and syngas yields. Increasing particle diameter from 5 to 25 mm reduces tar yield by ∼8% because of intraparticle heat-transfer limitations, while reactor wall temperature exerts a stronger influence on product distribution than inlet gas temperature. Peak tar fractions of 0.66–0.67 are obtained at 770 K inlet gas temperature and 831 K wall temperature. Sensitivity analysis indicates that conversion behavior is most sensitive to ρ (0.815) and least to ε (0.054), with λ (−0.272) and Cp (0.163) showing moderate effects. These parameters predominantly regulate conversion time rather than final product yields. The study provides mechanistic insight and a high-fidelity framework for optimizing biomass pyrolysis.