A certified quality management system tells our customers that our company’s processes meet the requirements set for them. Certification is also a clear indication that our organization is systematically improving its operations. Key factors for sustainable business include reliability, customer satisfaction and continuous improvement. Quality system certification demonstrates our company’s commitment to these issues. An efficient quality system ensures my company we have the ability to supply compliant products and services.
Author: prometec-timo
A missing piece of quality control for solid biofuels is now being found
In the quality control of solid biofuels, techniques have been developed for many years to make it possible to analyze the moisture content of samples collected from loads immediately at the time of sampling or immediately afterwards. Especially here in the North, the biggest problem during the winter is the effect of snow and ice on the measurement results. In addition, the degree of difficulty is raised by the ever-changing measurable fuels, each of which must be calibrated to the measuring equipment separately. Now a solution is being sought in Finland with the help of two top professional companies.
There have long been two major problems with quality control of biofuels. The first challenge is to automatically take representative samples of each load and the second is to obtain real-time information on the moisture content of the material before unloading. Prometec, a Kajaani-based company which focuses on quality control of biofuels, has solved the first problems by launching a fully automatic sampling equipment that takes samples by drilling them out from each incoming fuel load. Prometec currently operates in three different countries. Now Prometec has focused on solving another major problem together with Puumit Oy, a Kuopio-based manufacturer of measuring equipment. Puumit’s measuring device has been successfully tested in a pilot project in Kajaani throughout the winter and spring. Innovatively, combining measurement techniques, Puumit enables moisture analysis of samples collected with Prometec’s Q-Robot sampler and obtaining results immediately after sampling before the truck leaves the sampling station. Thus, the driver can be instructed to drive to specific unloading locations depending on the quality of the fuel and real-time data on the moisture content of the load is provided to both the power plant and the supplier
Real-time measurement of representative samples
Unlike typical electromagnetic moisture measurement methods such as microwaves or radio waves, Puumit Oy utilizes the frequency range of the electromagnetic spectrum, where the permittivity of ice corresponds to the permittivity of water. Thus, with impedance spectroscopy, it is possible to accurately measure moisture even from frozen material. Utilizing machine learning methods and artificial intelligence, spectral analyzes can be performed individually for different biofuels. The method is also self-learning, which contributes to improving the accuracy and reliability of the method.
“Sampling and measuring are the most important processes in determining fuel quality. Billing is based on these samples. Now when we can connect a reliable measuring device to the Q-Robot, we think we have found the missing piece for our offering, ”says Juha Huotari, CEO of Prometec.
“Cooperation with Prometec is vital to us. In this way, we get hundreds of samples measured and analyzed per month and we can develop our product more accurately, Elmo funding has made it possible to develop this new technology, ”says Heikki Sonninen, CEO of Puumit Oy.
Traditionally, trucks transporting biofuels have been sampled manually with a shovel. This causes an error in the moisture determination because obtaining representative samples manually is very challenging and time consuming. It is not possible to spend too much time on sampling per load, as during the busiest times of the heating seasons over one hundred trucks can arrive to the site and all of them needs to be sampled. Prometec’s sampler collects samples automatically, reliably and representatively before unloading.
“We have often been asked that either we can also measure the moisture of samples in real-time. That is why we have joined this development project, because our customers want these solutions and we want to serve them as well as possible. We see the measurement of samples as a challenging but potential task. It is clear that measuring equipment will be integrated into every Q-Robot, because it has so many benefits for customers, ”says Huotari from Prometec.
Future quality control is comprehensive. Both sampling and quality measurement should be automatic and accurate. By combining an automatic sampler with Q-Robot and Puumit measuring equipment, this big leap towards automatic quality control right at the receiving point, is possible to do.
Prometec to European-wide EMPIR research and development project
BIOFMET – New metrological methods for biofuel materials sampling and analysis
Prometec will be one of the key players to take part in the European-wide “BIOFMET” project co-funded by EU and coordinated by the Danish Technological Institute (DTI). The collaboration project aims to research online metrological methods for analysis of solid and liquid biofuels, to provide a metrological framework, including determination of the calorific value and quantification of impurities for validation of the developed methods ensuring traceability of on-line instrumentation. More accurately, our task in this project is to bring improved methods to representative solid biofuel sampling. The project is consisting consists of research institutes and research centers and companies around the Europe.
“This type of cooperation with research institutes is extremely fruitful for us. This is our chance to be a part of the huge change towards more environmentally friendly and energy efficient solutions in bioenergy sector”, says Henna Karlsson, co-founder and CTO of Prometec.
The aim of the project
The new sampling methods combined with on-line measurement methods developed in the project will be demonstrated at test-sites (Power plants) in Finland and Denmark.
“We want to be a part of the global network and in the front line when it comes to technological development of the bioenergy sector. We think that bioenergy industry will benefit a lot from the state-of-the-art technological solutions. For decades, this industry sector has suffered from problems in reliable sampling and real-time moisture information availability. Also, bioenergy sector has been accused for not being renewable. Now, it is the right time to solve these problems and correct these claims with the help of technological solutions”, says Prometec’s CMO, Timo Huotari.
BIOFMET project will start in June and it will last for 3 years.
Prometec to deliver automated truck sampler to Tallinn
Automated truck sampler to Tallinn
Prometec, a Finnish company specializing in automatic quality control of biofuels, and Utilitas, an Estonian energy company focused on energy-efficient solutions, start cooperation. Prometec will deliver automated sampling system, Q-Robot, to Utilitas Tallinn Elektrijaam power plant during 2020. This is Prometec’s first delivery in Estonia and also in the Baltic region.
“We consider this project a very important opening for the entering to Baltic region. We have identified it as a significant and growing area of bioenergy energy sector. There is therefore a clear need to pay more attention to the quality of biofuels. With the help of an automatic sampler, we can help them”, says Juha Huotari, CEO of Prometec
The project starts immediately. Prometec’s delivery includes an automatic sampler, Q-Robot, and an automated sample handling equipment. Utilitas Tallinn Elektijaam produces 45% of the total needs of Tallinn, as well as electricity for 130,000 homes in Tallinn. The fuel used is local biomass. The automatic sampler takes samples directly from the trucks before unloading. Automated sample handling equipment allows to generate samples for the laboratory with less manual work than usual.
Prometec in brief
Prometec is a Finnish technology company that manufactures customized automated sampling and sample handling equipment for industrial needs. Prometec operates currently in three different countries with biofuel sampling from trucks and trains. The Prometec’s Q-Robot automated sampler is a patented system that is capable of taking samples before unloading and subsequently providing real-time moisture data for the supplier and power plants.
OÜ Utilitas Tallinn Elektijaam in brief
Utilitas is providing district heating to 4,931 buildings in eight cities across Estonia, including to more than 173,000 households. We use renewable fuels to generate electricity in three combined heat and power stations, which cover the electricity demand of more than 170,000 apartments, i.e. all apartments in the district heating network of Tallinn.
TOP 5 questions about automated sampling
We collected five of the most common questions about automated sampling we hear at the fair.
1. What are the benefits of Q-Robot?
• Q-Robot provides representative samples directly from the load before unloading. Using the Q-Robot increases safety at work and significantly speeds up the time spent on trucks in the factory area. The Q-Robot is fully automatic and takes samples at random according to EN-18135. Sampling one full-size truck takes less than 10 minutes and from the semi-trailer under 8 minutes.
2. Does the Q-Robot measure anything?
• Fully automatic Q-Robot uses machine vision as one of its controls. The Q-Robot also has an integrated camera that monitors the load capacity. The Q-Robot software receives input data on biomass quality, load weight, supplier and truck size. Each car is individually identified in the system and the Q-Robot knows their volume. Based on this information, soon, we can generate computational moisture data and volume information from each load that can be used to control logistics and optimize the combustion process. This is in piloting stage.
3. What is included in the delivery?
• We want to provide our customers with easy access to turnkey turnkey delivery, including a sampling hall, Q-Robot and, if needed, sample processing equipment that is scalable to the customer’s needs and automated. The sampler and sampling equipment have been manufactured, assembled and tested in Kajaani, ensuring rapid installation and commissioning at the power plant.
4. What kind of material does Q-Robot get samples from?
• The Q-Robot is capable of sampling many different types of crushed and granular materials with a particle size of less than 150 mm. The auger is always clean and the material is never mixed between suppliers or species.
5. What happens after sampling?
• After the Q-Robot has collected a (biomass) standard sample, it is dropped to the specified coordinates. In most cases, samples are dropped into supplier and quality-specific mixer tanks, where a daily sample is formed. At its simplest, samples are dropped into a bucket with a plastic bag and the truck driver visits and takes them to an agreed location to wait for laboratory tests.
European Patent to Prometec’s automated sampler
European Patent to Prometec’s automated sampler
An automated sampling system manufactured and sold by Prometec has got a European Patent (3232179). The patent is about a sampling method where samples are collected from above of the cargo by drilling. Also, sample collector is now patented.
This will improve our sampling system’s brand and tells us that this sampling system is a unique solution says Prometec’s CEO Juha Huotari
This is what Finnish Patent and Registration office say about European Patent
“By filing a single application for a European patent (an EP application) you can obtain a patent in countries which have joined the European Patent Convention (EPC). The convention has been signed by 38 states, and two states have extension agreements on the validation of EP patents. The contracting parties are called the EPC countries, or the member states of the European Patent Organisation”
A quick start to the 2020s
Happy New Year! Our year starts off fast. We are leaving early in the year for the Biogaz Europe – Bois Energie – ReGen Europe 2020 trade fair in Nantes, France.
Before we attend Grand Tech Match 2020 in Stockholm, Prometec has been selected.
