Hot Filter Temperature Influence on Low-Density Polyethylene Pyrolysis Fuel Yield: Integrating Experimentation and Simulation
Abstract
This study investigates the influence of varying hot filter temperatures (100 °C, 200 °C, and 300 °C) on fuel yield and composition from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pyrolysis in a fixed-bed reactor. The pyrolysis process was conducted at 300 °C with condensing unit temperatures set at 30 °C and -40 °C for the first and second condensers, respectively. Results indicate that increasing the hot filter temperature enhances secondary cracking, leading to a reduction in the primary fuel yield while increasing gas and second-condensate fuel fractions. At 300 °C, the second condenser fuel yield increased to 13 wt%, with a notable shift in chemical composition favoring larger hydrocarbon molecules. The first-condensate fuel exhibited a heating value increase from 42.4 MJ/kg at 100 °C to 44.8 MJ/kg at 300 °C, accompanied by increased viscosity and density. Simulated results using MATLAB extended the analysis beyond experimental conditions, predicting significant trends in fuel distribution, energy consumption, and product composition up to 800 °C. These findings provide critical insights into optimizing pyrolysis parameters for enhanced fuel quality and yield.