Biomass Combustion

This chapter outlines technologies and performance issues in biomass combustion, summarizing system designs, feedstock properties, and environmental impacts. Combustor design and selection are dictated both by fuel type and end use. Within the class of biomass fuels are solids, gases, and liquids, the latter two being derived by physical, chemical, or biological conversion of the parent feedstock. Biomass combustion involves a range of technologies from primitive open fires and traditional cooking stoves to highly controlled furnaces used for power generation and combined heat and power applications. Increasing use of small biomass combustion systems for distributed power generation will similarly be of concern for increased risk of exposure to pollutant emissions among other environmental factors, such as noise, odors, and fugitive emissions (e.g. dust and debris). Despite these concerns, progress has been made in reducing emissions from combustion systems and improving emissions measurement and monitoring.