Simulation of wood pyrolysis with component-based mechanism

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive fire simulation study that models the pyrolysis process of beech wood using kinetic parameters with the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). The kinetic methodology is based on the application of these kinetic parameters to govern the underlying pyrolysis reactions. The primary objective was to numerically model the pyrolysis process for beech wood using both single-component (single-step, single reaction scheme) and multi-component (single-step, multi-reaction scheme) kinetic reaction schemes. The accuracy of the numerical model was validated by comparing FDS simulation results with experimental data obtained from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and cone calorimeter tests. This approach aids in identifying reliable kinetic reaction input parameters for modelling wood fires. A case study was included to demonstrate the implementation of the kinetic reaction schemes. Numerical results from the TGA simulations for the small-scale pure cellulose test using the single-component approach exhibit consistency with the experimental data. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that the multi-component approach more accurately replicates the shape of the experimental curve for beech wood compared to the single-component approach. However, discrepancies in the tail regions of the curves obtained from the FDS simulations showed the need for further improvement in the modelling approach, particularly regarding the exclusion of char oxidation reactions, which needs to be investigated further.