Various techniques are described for enhanced combustion of hot water extraction (HWE) derived liquor. For example, the HWE derived liquor can be pre-treated prior to introduction into a combustion chamber. The pre-treatment can include subjecting HWE derived liquor to filtration to remove suspended solids, evaporation to produce a first stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional concentration to produce a second stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional filtration to remove additional suspended solids; and pre-heating to produce a preheated HWE liquor. The preheated HWE liquor can be atomized and combined with pre-heated combustion air supplied into a combustion chamber to effect combustion of the HWE derived liquor.

The invention provides a process for the conversion of biomass into a biomass product which is suitable for use as a fuel. The biomass is of plant origin and comprises microorganisms naturally occurring in the biomass. The process comprisespreparing a slurry by dispersing the biomass comprising the naturally occurring microorganisms in an aqueous liquid, maintaining the slurry at conditions suitable for aerobic digestion by the microorganisms to obtain a slurry comprising the biomass product as a dispersed solid phase, andrecovering the biomass product. The recovering comprises washing and drying the biomass product. The invention also provides a combustion process.

The invention provides a process for the conversion of biomass into a biomass product which is suitable for use as a fuel. The biomass is of plant origin and comprises microorganisms naturally occurring in the biomass. The process comprisespreparing a slurry by dispersing the biomass comprising the naturally occurring microorganisms in an aqueous liquid, maintaining the slurry at conditions suitable for aerobic digestion by the microorganisms to obtain a slurry comprising the biomass product as a dispersed solid phase, andrecovering the biomass product. The recovering comprises washing and drying the biomass product. The invention also provides a combustion process.

A power-generation system having a combined heat and power plant and a fermentation plant has an electrolysis plant, which is connected by lines to both the combined heat and power plant and to the fermentation plant. This arrangement enables a method in which heat from a combined heat and power plant can be used for a fermentation plant and additionally heat from an electrolysis plant can be used for the fermentation plant, whilst the oxygen from the electrolysis plant is used for the combined heat and power plant.

A power-generation system having a combined heat and power plant and a fermentation plant has an electrolysis plant, which is connected by lines to both the combined heat and power plant and to the fermentation plant. This arrangement enables a method in which heat from a combined heat and power plant can be used for a fermentation plant and additionally heat from an electrolysis plant can be used for the fermentation plant, whilst the oxygen from the electrolysis plant is used for the combined heat and power plant.

This invention relates to a combustion system. The combustion system includes a fireplace which has a fire base, a primary combustion zone for pyrolysising and/or combusting a biomass fuel, and a secondary combustion zone for combusting gases and/or particulate matter produced from the pyrolysis and/or combustion of the biomass fuel. The combustion system also includes an exhaust flue, the exhaust flue extending to a position near to, or adjacent, the secondary combustion zone and/or the fire base. The invention may be particularly suitable for use in relation to wood burners, either by retrofitting to existing wood burners or by incorporating into new wood burners.

The invention provides a process for the conversion of biomass into a biomass product which is suitable for use as a fuel. The biomass is of plant origin and comprises microorganisms naturally occurring in the biomass. The process comprisespreparing a slurry by dispersing the biomass comprising the naturally occurring microorganisms in an aqueous liquid, maintaining the slurry at conditions suitable for aerobic digestion by the microorganisms to obtain a slurry comprising the biomass product as a dispersed solid phase, andrecovering the biomass product. The recovering comprises washing and drying the biomass product. The invention also provides a combustion process.

The invention provides a process for the conversion of biomass into a biomass product which is suitable for use as a fuel. The biomass is of plant origin and comprises microorganisms naturally occurring in the biomass. The process comprisespreparing a slurry by dispersing the biomass comprising the naturally occurring microorganisms in an aqueous liquid, maintaining the slurry at conditions suitable for aerobic digestion by the microorganisms to obtain a slurry comprising the biomass product as a dispersed solid phase, andrecovering the biomass product. The recovering comprises washing and drying the biomass product. The invention also provides a combustion process.

An environmental friendly, continuous biomass torrefaction system is disclosed herein. This torrefaction system captures carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from the combustion gases generated in the process. A portion of the captured CO.sub.2 is recycled and used as the inert gas for torrefying biomass and cooling the torrefied biomass. The rest of the captured CO.sub.2 is stored.

An environmental friendly, continuous biomass torrefaction system is disclosed herein. This torrefaction system captures carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) from the combustion gases generated in the process. A portion of the captured CO.sub.2 is recycled and used as the inert gas for torrefying biomass and cooling the torrefied biomass. The rest of the captured CO.sub.2 is stored.