TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The method includes: introducing the resultant combustion gases into a torrefaction reactor (108) so that the resultant combustion gases contact the biomass in the torrefaction reactor, and thus support direct heating and/or torrefying of the biomass in the torrefaction reactor; and/or introducing the resultant combustion gases into a cooler (112) so that the resultant combustion gases contact torrefied biomass in the cooler, and thus support direct cooling of the torrefied biomass in the cooler; and/or introducing the resultant combustion gases into a dryer/preheater (104) so that the resultant combustion gases contact biomass in the dryer/preheater, and thus support direct preheating, extraction of moisture, and/or drying of the biomass in a dryer/preheater; and/or using the resultant combustion gases in a condensation jacket of a dryer/preheater to support indirect heating of biomass in the dryer/preheater; and recovery of heat from the cooler so that heat integration is improved by direct use of low residual-oxygen combustion gases resulting from catalytic oxidation of torrefaction byproducts. Producing combustion gases includes: using an oxidation catalyst that provides a low residual oxygen flue gas stream usable directly in the torrefaction reactor; using an oxidation catalyst that provides low residual-oxygen combustion gases usable directly in the cooler for safely cooling hot torrefaction products in the cooler; using an oxidation catalyst that produces an inert gas stream that allows integration of the cooler with a torrefaction reactor, where the cooler and the torrefaction reactor are integrated into a single unit that includes both the cooler and the torrefaction reactor; and/or using a fixed-bed catalyst for low-temperature oxidation of torrefaction byproducts. The resultant combustion gases flow countercurrent to the biomass in the torrefaction reactor, or in the cooler. Preferred Components: The resultant combustion gases introduced into the torrefaction reactor comprise a combination of superheated steam from process moisture, superheated steam and carbon dioxide which are byproducts of catalytic oxidation combustion, and residual nitrogen from combustion air. The catalyst system (124) comprises a fixed-bed catalyst system operable for low-temperature, low residual oxygen catalytic oxidation of the resultant combustion gases; and/or the oxidation catalyst of the catalyst system comprises a platinum/palladium catalyst. The system further comprises: a torrefaction reactor configured to receive the resultant combustion gases to thus support direct heating and/or torrefying of the biomass in the torrefaction reactor; a dryer/preheater configured to receive the resultant combustion gases to thus support direct preheating, extraction of moisture, and/or drying of the biomass; a cooler configured to receive the resultant combustion gases to thus support direct cooling of torrefied biomass in the cooler; a fluidized-bed torrefaction reactor configured so that the biomass flows downward through the torrefaction reactor by gravity without requiring pneumatic or mechanical conveying of the biomass and so that the resultant combustion gases flow countercurrent to the biomass; and/or an integrated unit including a torrefaction reactor and a cooler. The system is: configured so that resultant combustion gases flow countercurrent to biomass in the torrefaction reactor, the dryer/preheater, and the cooler; and/or the dryer/preheater including a condensation jacket configured to receive the resultant combustion gases to support indirect heating of biomass in the dryer/preheater; and/or operable for selectively producing torrefied biomass or non-torrefied biomass.