Representative sampling of biomass
In biomass combustion, calorific value, moisture content, ash content, and pollutant content directly determine plant performance and emissions. The German Biomass Ordinance and the Federal Immission Control Act therefore require regular sampling of the fuel used, supplemented by the standards ISO 18135 for sampling and ISO 14780 for sample preparation of biogenic solid fuels. With CO₂ prices rising and environmental regulations tightening, thorough documentation of fuel quality is becoming an economic necessity for operators.
In a biomass power plant, the fuel—a mixture of wood chips and landscape waste with highly variable particle sizes—should be sampled immediately prior to combustion. At the intended installation site, space was limited, and the existing steel structure did not allow for the integration of a sampler without major modifications. We integrated the sampling process directly into an existing transfer point using a swivel-arm sampler, combined with a space-saving modification to the existing steel structure—avoiding the need for an entirely new build.
We also offer customized solutions for individual downstream sample processing steps, such as reducing dust generation or adapting sample transport to customer-specific downstream handling processes.
Discontinuous, on-demand sampling like this is part of our core business: we tailor the sampling frequency, sample volume, and installation configuration individually to the specific material and process, rather than relying on standard technology.
A few facts about our project:
- System conveying capacity of up to 9.5 t/h
- Number of Roskopf employees involved in the project: 8—ranging from technical project management to design to the installation team
- Approximately 4.5 metric tons of material in the form of steel components and machinery was installed in total
