Biomass Lecture Notes Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the Biomass lecture notes.

Biomass

A stored form of solar energy derived from photosynthesis, including forestry, quick-growing energy crops, residues, and wastes.

Primary Biomass

Using biomass directly for energy.

Secondary Biomass

Converting biomass to another form and then using it for energy.

Hydrocarbon

A fundamental component of biomass, requiring sunlight, water, and inorganic nutrients for self-generation.

Dispatchable Renewable Energy Source

Biomass, which can be used at will, unlike solar and wind that need to be used when available.

Carbon Cycle

The combined processes by which carbon cycles between the atmosphere, oceans, and living organisms including photosynthesis, decomposition, and respiration.

Carbon Neutrality

The concept where carbon released from biomass usage is balanced by carbon captured during its growth, making it sustainable.

Thermochemical Conversion

A group of biomass conversion processes including combustion, gasification, and pyrolysis.

Enzymatic Conversion

A group of biomass conversion processes including Anaerobic Digestion and Fermentation.

Chemical Conversion

A group of biomass conversion processes including Esterification.

Co-firing

Using biomass with coal in large power stations.

Bio-ethanol

A biofuel used to replace petrol (gasoline).

Bio-diesel

A biofuel used to replace diesel.

NIMBY

"Not In My Back Yard" - reflects public resistance to local biomass facilities.

Combustion

A chemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen) that produces energy in the form of heat and light.

Complete Combustion

Combustion where the reactant burns in oxygen, producing a limited number of products, primarily carbon dioxide and water.

Incomplete Combustion

Combustion occurring when there is not enough oxygen to allow the fuel to react completely, producing carbon monoxide and particulate matter.

Pyrolysis

Thermochemical decomposition of organic material at elevated temperatures in the absence of oxygen,producing bio-oil, bio-char and syngas.

Gasification

A process that converts organic or fossil fuel based carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam, producing syngas.

Grate Burners

A type of burner for biomass combustion with different designs like horizontal, cone, and sloping grates.

Stoker Burners

A type of burner for biomass combustion that includes spreader stokers and moving/traveling grates.

Suspension Burners

A burner where burning particles are suspended in a gas stream, achieving high combustion efficiencies.

Fluidised Bed

A combustion system using pulverised particles suspended in a fluidised bed for power generation.