Abstract: A method for extracting energy from biomass depleted of at least some carbohydrate, at least some oil, or both by a) introducing the biomass into a vertically elongated combustion chamber having i) at least one suspension burner at the top of the combustion chamber which is capable of projecting a flame down the axis of the combustion chamber, ii) a heat transfer apparatus having at least a portion of a heat collection surface located radially from the flame and below the burner, and iii) an exhaust opening located below the flame and below at least a portion of the heat collection surface; b) combusting the biomass to yield a mixture containing hot flue gas and molten ash above the exhaust opening; c) transferring heat from the hot flue gas to at least a portion of the heat collection surface substantially by radiation prior to any substantial contact of ash to a surface of the combustion chamber, to yield a mixture containing warm flue gas and non-molten ash and having a lower molten ash content than the mi

Abstract: A method for extracting energy from biomass depleted of at least some carbohydrate, at least some oil, or both by a) introducing the biomass into a vertically elongated combustion chamber having i) at least one suspension burner at the top of the combustion chamber which is capable of projecting a flame down the axis of the combustion chamber, ii) a heat transfer apparatus having at least a portion of a heat collection surface located radially from the flame and below the burner, and iii) an exhaust opening located below the flame and below at least a portion of the heat collection surface; b) combusting the biomass to yield a mixture containing hot flue gas and molten ash above the exhaust opening; c) transferring heat from the hot flue gas to at least a portion of the heat collection surface substantially by radiation prior to any substantial contact of ash to a surface of the combustion chamber, to yield a mixture containing warm flue gas and non-molten ash and having a lower molten ash content than the mi

Abstract: A method for producing anhydrous crystalline fructose by crystallizing from solution is provided. A highly supersaturated aqueous solution of fructose is added to a heel of crystalline fructose and dry seed. The temperature of the solution is then lowered to crystallize fructose from the solution to form a massecuite. The massecuite is divided into a product portion and a heel portion, the product portion being treated to isolated crystalline fructose which is then classified into product cuts on the basis of particle size of the fructose crystals, each product cut having a substantially typical particle size distribution.