Prometec’s automatic sampling has been verified by VTT

A comparative study carried out by VTT (Technical research center of Finland) was made in November 2020 at Kuopio Energy’s Haapaniemi power plant. For five days, samples from different types of biofuel loads were collected in both ways, with a Q-robot and manually by VTT. So, the comparison included automatic sampling and manual sampling. Load-specific samples were taken daily from all loads delivered during the 10-hour test period. Samples for the comparison were collected from a total of 59 loads, of which 26 loads were forest residue chips, 20 loads of whole wood and stem chips, 8 loads of peat and the remaining loads were sawdust and bark.

The comparative study followed the principles of the Wood Fuels Quality Guide (VTT-M-07608-13) and manual sampling was carried out in accordance with the standard EN ISO 18135: 2017. Manual increments were taken during the unloading from the falling material stream. According to the quality guideline, at least 6 individual samples (2 truck + 4 trailer) are taken from a combination of truck+trailer vehicle (100 – 160 m3), in which case these sample volumes have the possibility to achieve an accuracy requirement of about 3% in moisture with 3 – 5 load deliveries. Automated sampling was performed by a Q-robot that took load-specific samples according to its normal operating sequence. The Q-robot takes samples fully automatically and randomly from different depths and different points of the load in accordance with the sampling standard EN ISO 18135: 2017. Moisture was analyzed from the samples and particle size distributions were also analyzed from forest residue chip samples.

Research results

The difference in average moisture of all fuel types over the reference period between sampling methods was 0.7 percentage points. In the comparison, there was a particular interest in the differences between the sampling methods for inhomogeneous forest residue chips, where the moisture variations within the load can be very large. In comparison, the average moisture difference between the sampling methods for all forest residue chip loads was 1.5 percentage points. For forest residue chips, as for all other fuel types, the moisture variations between the loads were reasonably large and the moisture between the sampling methods were scattered in one and the other, but no systematic difference was observed between the sampling methods. As a result of the verification, no clear systematic difference between the methods affecting the results in one direction could be observed from the results. In the light of these research results, the automatic sampling of the Q-robot meets the requirements of the standard for reliable sampling.

 

It is important for us to know how to develop our operations and products as well as our services. We at Prometec believe that our current customers are the best opportunities for sparrers and that’s why we actively want to hear how we have succeeded. Development doesn’t happen over one night and it requires enthusiastic doing and investing in new, not forgetting well-functioning models. We want to be Reliable, Innovative and Eager.

 

The latest customer survey was sent about a month ago. The purpose of the survey was to find out our customers’ satisfaction with the products and services, and in a bigger picture, the customers’ opinions about us. Therefore, we would like to say thank you to all the respondents, we greatly appreciate your answers. Based on the responses, we can say that we have succeeded in creating good and reliable relationship with our customers. In particular, we received praise for working close to the customer and being active towards the customer. We will continue this work. Also, we received positive feedback from the quick response to the contacts. Our customers’ willingness to recommend was very good 9.4 (max 10) based on the international NPS = Net Promoter Score scale. The answers encourage us to continue our innovative work in both products and services.

 

Thanks again to the respondents. We are happy to return to development ideas in our personal conversations.

Best regards,

Prometec

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.

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.

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.

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.

We visited Stockholm Exergi Värtaverket site to see our newest sampler. Also, we were privileged to see the whole site. It was so impressive! At Värtaverket automated sampler, Q-Robot, collects samples from the train wagons. The whole project has gone nicely and on schedule. Heating season is about to start and train load will start coming in soon. Stockholm Exergi receives biomass deliveries by boats, trains and trucks.