Pyrolysis and heat transfer characteristics of single large biomass particle were investigated using three-dimensional unsteady heat transfer model coupled with chemical reactions. The consumption of biomass and the production of products were simulated. Some experiments were designed to provide model parameters for simulation calculations. The simulation was verified by pyrolysis experiments of large biomass particle in a vertical tube furnace. The simulation results show the internal heat and mass transfer law during the pyrolysis of large biomass particle. When the biomass particle diameter is between 10 and 30 mm

for every 5 mm increase in particle diameter

the time required for complete pyrolysis will increase on average by about 50 s. When the pyrolysis temperature is between 673 K and 873 K

a slight decrease in the pyrolysis temperature will cause the time required for the biomass to fully pyrolyze to rise significantly. And the phenomenon is more obvious in the low temperature range. The results indicate that the numerical simulation agrees well with the experimental results.