Friction heated pyrolysis unit and method of friction heating a pyrolysis unit

A friction heated pyrolysis unit (2) comprising a housing (20) and at least one rotatably mounted friction wheel (4, 4') arranged in the housing (20) is disclosed. Each friction wheel (4, 4') is attached to a shaft (8, 8') connected to a driving unit (32), wherein the pyrolysis unit (2) comprises a guiding assembly (6, 6', 24, 24') arranged and configured to transport biomass (22) into contact with the friction wheel (4, 4'). The guiding assembly (6, 6', 24, 24') comprises at least a tubular structure (6, 6') having a distal end facing the friction wheel (4, 4'). A conveyor (24, 24') is provided in each tubular structure (8, 8'). The conveyor (24, 24') is configured to transport biomass (22) towards the distal end of the tubular structure (6, 6') and hereby press the biomass (22) towards the friction wheel (4, 4') with a force large enough to compact the biomass (22) in such a manner that the friction between the compacted biomass (22) and the portion of the friction wheel (4) that is in contact with the biomass (22) creates thermal energy enough to maintain a pyrolysis process in the housing (20).