Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels

Leon Loni Berkel; Paulo Debiagi; Stefan Pielsticker; David Tarlinski; Osvalda Senneca; Tiziano Faravelli; Viktor Scherer; Reinhold Kneer; Christan Hasse

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8

Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels

Leon Loni Berkel
, Paulo Debiagi
, Stefan Pielsticker
, David Tarlinski
, Osvalda Senneca
, Tiziano Faravelli
, Viktor Scherer
, Reinhold Kneer
, Christan Hasse

CBI Green Chemicals and Energy Centre

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Book Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This chapter presents the development of models for the thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass, focusing on advances in biomass modelling. Chapter 8 introduces the characteristics of solid fuels, compares pyrolysis behaviours, and outlines the molecular structure of biomass, providing a foundation for kinetic modelling. Key models discussed include the chemical percolation devolatilisation (CPD) model, char conversion kinetics (CCK) model, and the CRECK-S model. CPD and CCK models carry an increased level of phenomenological description, ideal for benchmarking fuel conversion predictions. In contrast, CRECK-S model offers balanced complexity, predictivity and seamless coupling of pyrolysis and char reactions. The CRECK-S model is chosen to be the basis of solid fuel conversion modelling in the OxySim-129 framework, and hence is the main focus of this chapter. The outcome is a comprehensive model capable of handling diverse operating conditions that can be coupled directly or indirectly to CFD simulations. Major developments include extensions for oxy-fuel char conversion, increasing details of released products, validation for biomass feedstock samples of Oxyflame (i.e. walnut shells).

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Clean Energy Conversion
Subtitle of host publication	Oxy-fuel Combustion of Solid Fuels
Editors	Reinhold Kneer, Heinz Pitsch, Andreas Dreizler, Viktor Scherer, Anna Maßmeyer, Stefan Pielsticker
Publisher	Springer, Cham
Chapter	8
Pages	191-237
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031989568
ISBN (Print)	9783031989551
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8
Publication status	Published - 18 Feb 2026

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10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8

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Berkel, L. L., Debiagi, P., Pielsticker, S., Tarlinski, D., Senneca, O., Faravelli, T., Scherer, V., Kneer, R., & Hasse, C. (2026). Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels. In R. Kneer, H. Pitsch, A. Dreizler, V. Scherer, A. Maßmeyer, & S. Pielsticker (Eds.), Clean Energy Conversion: Oxy-fuel Combustion of Solid Fuels (pp. 191-237). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8

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title = "Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels",

abstract = "This chapter presents the development of models for the thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass, focusing on advances in biomass modelling. Chapter 8 introduces the characteristics of solid fuels, compares pyrolysis behaviours, and outlines the molecular structure of biomass, providing a foundation for kinetic modelling. Key models discussed include the chemical percolation devolatilisation (CPD) model, char conversion kinetics (CCK) model, and the CRECK-S model. CPD and CCK models carry an increased level of phenomenological description, ideal for benchmarking fuel conversion predictions. In contrast, CRECK-S model offers balanced complexity, predictivity and seamless coupling of pyrolysis and char reactions. The CRECK-S model is chosen to be the basis of solid fuel conversion modelling in the OxySim-129 framework, and hence is the main focus of this chapter. The outcome is a comprehensive model capable of handling diverse operating conditions that can be coupled directly or indirectly to CFD simulations. Major developments include extensions for oxy-fuel char conversion, increasing details of released products, validation for biomass feedstock samples of Oxyflame (i.e. walnut shells).",

author = "Berkel, \{Leon Loni\} and Paulo Debiagi and Stefan Pielsticker and David Tarlinski and Osvalda Senneca and Tiziano Faravelli and Viktor Scherer and Reinhold Kneer and Christan Hasse",

year = "2026",

month = feb,

day = "18",

doi = "10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8",

language = "English",

isbn = "9783031989551",

pages = "191--237",

editor = "Kneer, \{Reinhold \} and Pitsch, \{ Heinz \} and Dreizler, \{ Andreas \} and Scherer, \{ Viktor \} and Ma{\ss}meyer, \{ Anna \} and Pielsticker, \{ Stefan \}",

booktitle = "Clean Energy Conversion",

publisher = "Springer, Cham",

}

Berkel, LL, Debiagi, P, Pielsticker, S, Tarlinski, D, Senneca, O, Faravelli, T, Scherer, V, Kneer, R & Hasse, C 2026, Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels. in R Kneer, H Pitsch, A Dreizler, V Scherer, A Maßmeyer & S Pielsticker (eds), Clean Energy Conversion: Oxy-fuel Combustion of Solid Fuels. Springer, Cham, pp. 191-237. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8

Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels. / Berkel, Leon Loni; Debiagi, Paulo; Pielsticker, Stefan et al.
Clean Energy Conversion: Oxy-fuel Combustion of Solid Fuels. ed. / Reinhold Kneer; Heinz Pitsch; Andreas Dreizler; Viktor Scherer; Anna Maßmeyer; Stefan Pielsticker. Springer, Cham, 2026. p. 191-237.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Book Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels

AU - Berkel, Leon Loni

AU - Debiagi, Paulo

AU - Pielsticker, Stefan

AU - Tarlinski, David

AU - Senneca, Osvalda

AU - Faravelli, Tiziano

AU - Scherer, Viktor

AU - Kneer, Reinhold

AU - Hasse, Christan

PY - 2026/2/18

Y1 - 2026/2/18

N2 - This chapter presents the development of models for the thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass, focusing on advances in biomass modelling. Chapter 8 introduces the characteristics of solid fuels, compares pyrolysis behaviours, and outlines the molecular structure of biomass, providing a foundation for kinetic modelling. Key models discussed include the chemical percolation devolatilisation (CPD) model, char conversion kinetics (CCK) model, and the CRECK-S model. CPD and CCK models carry an increased level of phenomenological description, ideal for benchmarking fuel conversion predictions. In contrast, CRECK-S model offers balanced complexity, predictivity and seamless coupling of pyrolysis and char reactions. The CRECK-S model is chosen to be the basis of solid fuel conversion modelling in the OxySim-129 framework, and hence is the main focus of this chapter. The outcome is a comprehensive model capable of handling diverse operating conditions that can be coupled directly or indirectly to CFD simulations. Major developments include extensions for oxy-fuel char conversion, increasing details of released products, validation for biomass feedstock samples of Oxyflame (i.e. walnut shells).

AB - This chapter presents the development of models for the thermochemical conversion of coal and biomass, focusing on advances in biomass modelling. Chapter 8 introduces the characteristics of solid fuels, compares pyrolysis behaviours, and outlines the molecular structure of biomass, providing a foundation for kinetic modelling. Key models discussed include the chemical percolation devolatilisation (CPD) model, char conversion kinetics (CCK) model, and the CRECK-S model. CPD and CCK models carry an increased level of phenomenological description, ideal for benchmarking fuel conversion predictions. In contrast, CRECK-S model offers balanced complexity, predictivity and seamless coupling of pyrolysis and char reactions. The CRECK-S model is chosen to be the basis of solid fuel conversion modelling in the OxySim-129 framework, and hence is the main focus of this chapter. The outcome is a comprehensive model capable of handling diverse operating conditions that can be coupled directly or indirectly to CFD simulations. Major developments include extensions for oxy-fuel char conversion, increasing details of released products, validation for biomass feedstock samples of Oxyflame (i.e. walnut shells).

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8

DO - 10.1007/978-3-031-98956-8

M3 - Book Chapter

SN - 9783031989551

SP - 191

EP - 237

BT - Clean Energy Conversion

A2 - Kneer, Reinhold

A2 - Pitsch, Heinz

A2 - Dreizler, Andreas

A2 - Scherer, Viktor

A2 - Maßmeyer, Anna

A2 - Pielsticker, Stefan

PB - Springer, Cham

ER -

Kinetic Modelling of Thermochemical Conversion of Solid Fuels

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