Method for pyrolyzing ligneous biomass

A method for pyrolyzing ligneous biomass, comprising:

• mechanically grinding ligneous biomass into ligneous particles of less than 3 cm3;
• conveying the ligneous particles to a dryer operating at a temperature of at least 80° C., the dryer being configured to have a moisture level of the ligneous particles of less than 10% at an outlet;
• heating the ligneous particles coming from the dryer, in a horizontal-trough pyrolysis reactor having an oxygen level of less than 15%, the horizontal-trough pyrolysis reactor comprising a first inlet for the ligneous particles and a second inlet for heat-transfer beads, the heating is configured to establish a temperature inside the horizontal-trough pyrolysis reactor of between 400° C. and 660° C. and configured to make the ligneous particles react so as to have a first output of a mixture of the heat-transfer beads and pyrolyzed ligneous particles, and a second output of a pyrolysis gas, the residence time in the horizontal-trough pyrolysis reactor is at least 20 seconds;
• heating the heat-transfer beads in a bead regenerator, prior to the heat-transfer beads entering the horizontal-through reactor, at a temperature of between 400° C. and 650° C. for at least 40 seconds, the bead regenerator comprising a main cylinder through which cylindrical tubes pass in which the heat-transfer beads pass.