Pyrolysis of centimeter-scale wood particles is of practical interest and provides a sensitive test of pyrolysis models, especially their thermochemistry. In this paper we present an updated comprehensive pyrolysis model including chemical reactions and transport of heat and species, implemented independently in two different software environments. Results of the model are compared to experimental results of three independent sets of centimeter-scale experiments. Temperatures, mass losses, and rate of production of several gaseous and light tar species are included in the comparisons. Predictions and experiments agree qualitatively and in most cases have reasonable quantitative agreement. We also report comparisons of model predictions to literature data obtained in other regimes (thermogravimetric analysis and omogeneous tar cracking) in order to demonstrate that predictive capabilities of the model have not been compromised by the modifications presented here

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International audienceThis work is devoted to the pyrolysis of centimetre-scale wood particles, for temperature ranging between 450 and 1050 degrees C. A specific device has been designed to perform pyrolysis tests on a single particle and to collect both thermal and chemical data which are necessary to describe pyrolysis at centimetre-scale. Temperature profiles inside the sample are monitored during pyrolysis. Char, gas, tars and water yields, as well as the elemental composition of each class of products are measured. The yields of the main gaseous species (CO, CO2, CH4, C2H4 and H-2) are monitored during the reaction. Tars are collected, and six compounds are quantified