Dynamic Modelling And Experimental Validation Of A Pilot-Scale Tubular Continuous Reactor For The Autohydrolysis Of Lignocellulosic Materials

This work focuses on the dynamic modelling of a Pilot-scale Tubular Reactor (PTR) for the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic materials (LCM), with three main process stages: extrusion, autohydrolysis and steam explosion. The reactor was modelled as an arrangement of Continuous Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTR), in order to have the residence time (tau) as an explicit variable, to be used as input variable in the associated control scheme. This dynamic model also takes into account the production of intermediate oligosaccharides as well as of acetyl-compounds in the reaction rates. The model performance was validated with experimental data, consisting of concentration profiles of hemicellulose, cellulose, glucose and xylose in the PTR outlet stream, as well as temperature and acidity profiles. The proposed model is able to describe the dynamic behaviour of the PTR at 160 degrees C and 75 psig, within reasonable tolerances.