Method and apparatus for biomass torrefaction, manufacturing a storable fuel from biomass and producing offsets for the combustion products of fossil fuels and a combustible article of manufacture

A method for biomass torrefaction which comprises:

• providing a quantity of biomass;
• providing a liquid heat transfer fluid;
• providing at least a first housing for holding said liquid heat transfer fluid;
• elevating the temperature of the liquid heat transfer fluid;
• heat treating the biomass by passing it through the liquid heat transfer fluid in the first housing at a temperature and duration to accomplish torrefaction of the biomass, wherein the liquid heat transfer fluid is substantially all a liquid throughout the elevating and heat treating steps and wherein the step of providing a first housing includes providing a serpentine elongated first housing that has at least a first generally U-shaped axial portion having first and second axial extremities and an intermediate section, the first and second axial extremities are disposed in normal use at a higher elevation than the intermediate section, and the intermediate section is configured for holding a liquid.

A method for biomass torrefaction which comprises:

• providing a quantity of biomass;
• providing a liquid heat transfer fluid;
• providing at least a first housing for holding said liquid heat transfer fluid;
• elevating the temperature of the liquid heat transfer fluid and maintaining the pressure in the first housing above the vapor pressure of the liquid heat transfer fluid;
• heat treating the biomass by passing it through the heat transfer fluid in the first housing at a temperature and duration to accomplish torrefaction of the wood wherein the liquid heat transfer fluid is substantially all a liquid throughout the elevating and heat treating steps.

A method for biomass torrefaction which comprises:

• providing a quantity of biomass;
• providing a liquid heat transfer fluid;
• providing at least a first housing for holding said liquid heat transfer fluid;
• elevating the temperature of the liquid heat transfer fluid and maintaining the pressure in the first housing above the vapor pressure of the liquid heat transfer fluid;
• heat treating the biomass by passing it through the heat transfer fluid in the first housing at a temperature and duration to accomplish torrefaction of the wood wherein the liquid heat transfer fluid is substantially all a liquid throughout the elevating and heat treating steps and wherein the step of providing a first housing includes providing a serpentine elongated first housing that has at least a first generally U-shaped axial portion having first and second axial extremities and an intermediate section, the first and second axial extremities are disposed in normal use at a higher elevation than the intermediate section, and the intermediate section is configured for holding a liquid.