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CT: Since biomass is the only carbon-based renewable fuel, its application becomes more and more important for climate protection. Among the thermochemical conversion technologies (i.e., combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis), combustion is the only proven technology for heat and power production. Biomass combustion systems are available in the size range from a few kW up to more than 100 MW. The efficiency for heat production is considerably high and heat from biomass is economically feasible. Commercial power production is based on steam cycles. The specific cost and efficiency of steam plants is interesting at large scale applications. Hence co-combustion of biomass with coal is promising, as it combines high efficiency with reasonable transport distances for the biomass.

S: ACSP – https://goo.gl/3YCUKx (last access: 1 December 2017)

N: 1. From early 15c., from Old French combustion (13c.), from Latin combustionem (nominative combustio) “a burning,” noun of action from past participle stem of Latin comburere “to burn up, consume,” from com-, intensive prefix + burere, faulty separation of amburere “to burn around,” actually ambi-urere, from urere “to burn, singe,” from PIE root *eus- “to burn”.
2. An exothermic reaction of a combustible substance with an oxidizer, usually accompanied by flames, and/or glowing and/or emission of smoke. (Definition standardized by ISO)
3. There are several types of combustion.

• Rapid combustion: it releases massive amounts of energy in the form of heat and light, as is the case with fire.
• Spontaneous heating and combustion: no external ignition source is required for it to proceed.
• Smoldering: characterized by the presence of incandescence and smoke. It produces no flame.
• Complete combustion: it needs a plentiful supply of air so that the elements in the fuel react fully with oxygen. The carbon oxidises to carbon dioxide and the hydrogen oxidises to water.

4. Direct combustion is the best established and most commonly used technology for converting biomass to heat. During combustion, biomass fuel is burnt in excess air to produce heat. The first stage of combustion involves the evolution of combustible vapours from the biomass, which burn as flames. The residual material, in the form of charcoal, is burnt in a forced air supply to give more heat. The hot combustion gases are sometimes used directly for product drying, but more usually they are passed through a heat exchanger to produce hot air, hot water or steam.
5. The direct combustion of biomass for the production of heat energy can be divided into four basic system groups: the Pile Burning, the Stoker Fired Grate Burning the Suspension Burning and the Fluidized Bed. These groups can be distinguished essentially by understanding the relative differences in the ways which the fuel is burned.
6. Phraseology: flaming combustion, glowing combustion, high-speed combustion, slow combustion, smoldering combustion, surface oxidative combustion.

S: 1. OED – https://goo.gl/kCr7Du; https://goo.gl/AydWQW (last access: 30 November 2017). 2. TERMIUM PLUS – http://www.goo.gl/jfVJ1M (last access: 1 December 2017). 3. SC – https://goo.gl/vHse79; BBC – https://goo.gl/HsKMYp (last access: 30 November 2017). 4. Bioe – https://goo.gl/tfFmDz (last access: 30 November 2017). 5. DCS – https://goo.gl/9T6e53 (last access: 30 November 2017). 6. TERMIUM PLUS – http://www.goo.gl/jfVJ1M (last access: 1 Decemberr 2017).

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CR: acid rain, biomass, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, contaminant , CO2 emissions, environment, gasification, greenhouse gas, manure, nitrogen oxide, pollution.