Biomass Glossary
Bioenergy
Useful, renewable energy produced from organic matter. The conversion of the complex carbohydrates in organic matter to energy. Organic matter may either be used directly as a fuel or processed into liquids and gases.
Biofuel
See biomass fuel.
Biogas
A combustible gas derived from decomposing biological waste under anaerobic conditions. Biogas normally consists of 50 to 60 percent methane.
Biomass
Organic matter available on a renewable basis. Biomass includes forest and mill residues, agricultural crops and wastes, wood and wood wastes, animal wastes, livestock operation residues, aquatic plants, fast-growing trees and plants, and municipal and industrial wastes. We only deal with appliances that burn wood pellets, wood chips, logs and grain
Biomass fuel
Liquid, solid, or gaseous fuel produced by conversion of biomass. Examples include bioethanol from corn, charcoal or woodchips and biogas from decomposition of wastes.
Biomass energy
See Bioenergy.
British thermal unit - Btu
A non-metric unit of heat, still widely used by engineers. One Btu is the heat energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water from 60°F to 61°F at one atmosphere pressure. 1 Btu = 1055 joules (1.055 kJ).
Capacity
The maximum power that a machine or system can produce or carry safely. The maximum instantaneous output of a resource under specified conditions. The capacity of generating equipment is generally expressed in kilowatts or megawatts.
Char
The remains of solid biomass that has been incompletely combusted, such as charcoal if wood is incompletely burned.
Chips
Woody material cut into short, thin wafers. Chips are used as a raw material for gardens, fibreboard or as biomass fuel. For biomass fuel a low bark content is advisable. The G30 Woodchip Size is the grade of fuel used in our range of biomass boilers and most other domestic biomass boilers. This is as follows for the look and content of the processed chips, 4% under 1mm, 20% 1 to 3mm, 60% to 100% 3 to 16mm and 20% over 16mm. The maximum extremes of the wood chip are area 30mm2 and length 85mm. With a W35 moisture content of 30% to 34%.
Conifer
Tree, usually evergreen, with cones and needle-shaped or scale like leaves, producing wood known commercially as softwood.
Combustion
Burning. The transformation of biomass fuel into heat, chemicals, and gases through chemical combination of hydrogen and carbon in the fuel with oxygen in the air.
Combustion air
The air fed to a fire to provide oxygen for combustion of fuel.
Combustion Chamber
The place in the boiler where the fuel is burnt.
Combustion efficiency
(actual heat produced by combustion) divided by (total heat potential of the fuel consumed)
Emissions
Waste substances released into the air or water.
Energy crops
Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. These include food crops such as corn, and non-food crops such as poplar trees and switchgrass. Currently, two energy crops are under development: short-rotation woody crops, which are fast-growing hardwood trees harvested in 5 to 8 years, and herbaceous energy crops, such as perennial grasses, which are harvested annually after taking 2 to 3 years to reach full productivity.
Flue
The flue on the biomass boiler is much larger than an oil or gas boilers flue. Typically the flues are stainless steel and they are insulated. An outside diameter of 200mm should be expected. A biomass boilers flue usually terminates at roof level and is more similar to a stainless steel chimney rather than a balanced flue you would find on modern boilers.
Fossil fuel
Solid, liquid, or gaseous fuels formed in the ground after millions of years by chemical and physical changes in plant and animal residues under high temperature and pressure. Oil, natural gas, and coal are fossil fuels.
Gigawatt - GW
A measure of electrical power equal to one billion watts (1,000,000 kW). A large coal or nuclear power station typically has a capacity of about 1 GW.
Greenhouse Effect
The effect of certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere in trapping heat from the sun.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that trap the heat of the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, producing the greenhouse effect. The two major greenhouse gases are water vapour and carbon dioxide. Other greenhouse gases include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide.
Hardwoods
Usually broad-leaved and deciduous trees.
Herbaceous
Non-woody type of vegetation, usually lacking permanent strong stems, such as grasses, cereals and rape.
Heat Exchanger
Many heating systems have heat exchangers of different designs. The heat exchanger in the biomass boiler is where the hot gases from the burning pellets or logs pass before being expelled out of the flue. When the hot gases pass through the heat exchanger they transfer heat to the water that flows through the radiators or underfloor heating.
HETAS
HETAS is the official body recognised by government to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services. Its work in approving products covers boilers, cookers, open fires and stoves and roomheaters.
HETAS collaborates with the National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) in supervising a solid fuel orientated course for chimney sweeps which results in successful candidates being 'HETAS Approved'.
In association with the Solid Fuel Association (SFA), HETAS operates a registration scheme for heating engineers with special skills in the installation and maintenance of solid fuel and biomass heating systems.
HETAS represents the industry with government in matters such as Building Regulations and in the setting of standards both in the UK and Europe where its staff manage and chair committees drafting new British and European Standards. Its 'three tick' logo is the approval mark to be looked for in solid fuel domestic heating products and services.
Hopper
Storage container for wood pellets or chips usually sited next to the boiler. This container is usually filled by hand and would typically need weekly filling for pellets. Or every other day with wood chips.
Hydrocarbon
Any chemical compound containing hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon.
Joule
Metric unit of energy, equivalent to the work done by a force of one Newton applied over a distance of one meter (= 1 kg m2/s2). One joule (J) = 0.239 calories (1 calorie = 4.187 J).
Kilowatt - kW
A measure of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts. 1 kW = 3,413 Btu/hr = 1.341 horsepower. See also watt..
Kilowatt hour - kWh
A measure of energy equivalent to the expenditure of one kilowatt for one hour. For example, 1 kWh will light a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours. 1 kWh = 3,413 Btu.
Lambda Control
The Lambda control monitors the rate of combustion and changes the amount of oxygen let into the combustion chamber of the boiler. This gives excellent, performance and increases the efficientcy of the boiler.
Logs
The logs used for burning in log burning boilers are best from hardwood as the hardwood holds more energy.
Oxygen Control
See Lambda Control
Megawatt - MW
A measure of electrical power equal to one million watts (1,000 kW). See also watt.
Moisture content - MC
The weight of the water contained in wood, usually expressed as a percentage of weight, either oven-dry or as received.
Moisture content, dry basis
Moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of oven-dry wood, i.e.:
[(weight of wet sample - weight of dry sample) / weight of dry sample ] x 100
Moisture content, wet basis
Moisture content expressed as a percentage of the weight of wood as-received, i.e.:
[(weight of wet sample - weight of dry sample) / weight of wet sample ] x 100
Monoculture
The cultivation of a single species crop.
Organic Compounds
Chemical compounds based on carbon chains or rings and also containing hydrogen, with or without oxygen, nitrogen, and other elements.
Pellets
See Wood Pellets
Silo
A large store for wood fuel deliveries. Usually stores wood pellets in 3 to 5 tonnes deliveries for domestic installations. Sizes would be larger for wood chips.
Sustainable
An ecosystem condition in which biodiversity, renewability, and resource productivity are maintained over time.
Tonne
One metric tonne (tonne) = 1,000 kilograms (2,205 pounds)
Watt
One Watt = 3.413 Btu/hr. See also kilowatt.
Weather Compensation Heating Controls
This type of heating system uses the least fuel. The system monitors the temperature inside and outside the building and delivers the correct amount of heat to the building so the building keeps at a comfortable temperature. It's a very efficient way to heat properties and has been mainly used in commercial buildings or larger properites but is now being used more in domestic dwellings.
Wood Chips
See Chips
Wood Pellets
Pellets are usually manufactured from waste products from sawmills and wood processing factories. The materials used include wood chips and sawdust etc. Chemical additives are NOT used, the natural lignin of the wood serves as a binder, although sometimes small quantities of maize starch are also added.
"You might not see things yet on the surface, but underground, it's already on fire." Y.B. Mangunwijaya
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