Technologies for Converting Biomass to Useful Energy

Covering the state of the art in the field of efficient biomass conversion, this book addresses most technical issues, such as combustion, gasification, torrefaction, pyrolysis, pelletizing, and biogas production. Transportation of biomass is a burden to high bulk volume. By using torrefaction this problem can be solved. Demonstration plants are under construction in Sweden and France. Combustion with combined heat and power gives very high efficiency with respect to utilization of the fuel heating value – up to 117 % is not uncommon with exhaust gas condensation. Production of vehicle fuels is another very important aspect. Here biogas using waste and crops is essential, but also high temperature gasification.  The authors of the book chapters are well qualified researchers and engineers in different aspects of the biomass uitilization from most parts of the world, giving a good coverage of what is going on globally.