For hundreds of years, petroleum crude oil has been used for energy generation. Due to environmental impact and the depletion of petroleum crude oil, biocrude came up as a renewable alternative.
Rukshan Madhawa Jayathilake
PhD Candidate
Rukshan Madhawa Jayathilake of the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Agder has submitted his thesis entitled «Numerical modelling and validation of Hydrothermal liquefaction of Lignin» and will defend the thesis for the PhD-degree Tuesday 03 May 2022.
He has followed the PhD-programme at the Faculty of Engineering and Science at the University of Agder with specialisation in Engineering Sciences, Scientific field Renewable Energy.
For hundreds of years, petroleum crude oil has been used for energy generation. Due to environmental impact and the depletion of petroleum crude oil, biocrude came up as a renewable alternative.
Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a method that mainly produces a liquid biocrude. In the HTL process, initially, the biomass is decomposed into smaller molecules through hydrolysis.
To improve the HTL process and to make better predictions different models are used. Different models provide different advantages and disadvantages.
In this study, an improved biomass decomposition model is proposed using the shrinking core concept.
The shrinking core concept provides a relatively less complex, nonetheless effective way to model liquefaction at the particle level.
Several relevant cases with different operating conditions were tested on the applied models to see how they worked. Some weaknesses were found. These were related to heat transfer, initial kinetic data, and other kinetic parameters such as rate constants.
A wide range of feedstock is used for the HTL process.
Lignin is found to be a useful feedstock to be used in the HTL process. Nevertheless, still, there are many aspects to be investigated related to lignin liquefaction such as char formation and co-liquefaction behavior.
Therefore, the liquefaction performances of lignin and its behavior are investigated in different aspects.
In this PhD research, the developed model is evaluated in different stages for its limitations as well as for its reliability.
Further, the behavior of lignin liquefaction is investigated to uncover its true liquefaction potential.
The trial lecture and the public defence will take place on campus in Auditorium C2 040, Campus Grimstad, and online (registration link below) via the Zoom conferencing app - registration link below.
Associate Professor Margrethe Wold, Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, will chair the disputation.
Given topic for trial lecture: «Biofuel Production and Application - Challenges and Potential to meet the sustainable goals»
Thesis Title: «Numerical modelling and validation of Hydrothermal liquefaction of Lignin»
Search for the thesis in AURA - Agder University Research Archive, a digital archive of scientific papers, theses and dissertations from the academic staff and students at the University of Agder.
The Candidate: Rukshan Madhawa Jayathilake: (1988, Godakawela, Sri Lanka) BSc in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Ruhuna (2013), MSc in renewable energy from the University of Agder (2016). Present position: Research Scientist at Sintef Industry.
First opponent: Professor Dr. Manosh C. Paul, University of Glasgow, UK
Second opponent: Professor Dr. Jorge M. Marchetti, NMBU
Associate professor Martin Choux, University of Agder, is appointed as the administrator for the assessment committee.
Supervisor in the doctoral work was Associate Professor Souman Rudra, University of Agder
The chair invites members of the public to pose questions ex auditorio in the introduction to the public defense, with deadlines. It is a prerequisite that the opponent has read the thesis. Questions can be submitted to the chair Margrethe Wold on e-mail margrethe.wold@uia.no