The system ensures safe operation, prevents fires and thus minimises energy losses and negative environmental impacts.

Biomass, consisting of wood, plant residues and waste, is an important component of renewable energies and helps to reduce fossil fuels. However, there is a major fire risk when storing it.

After all, biochemical processes can lead to dangerous temperature increases and self-ignition. In order to ensure the safety of biomass plants and prevent fires, an early detection system for the heating of biofuels is therefore useful. This is exactly what a large district heating plant in southern Sweden has implemented with innovative JUMO technologies.

Keeping an eye on the safety of the entire plant

The core of the biomass generates the greatest heat through oxygen supply, biological degradation and moisture, which is why early detection of excessive heating is particularly important at this point. Since commercially available thermal imaging cameras are generally limited to recording surface temperatures, they usually reach their limits when heating occurs in deeper layers. As a result,an alternative monitoring system is required that alerts the plant operator early in an emergency in order to enable counter measures such as shifting the material with a wheel loader. This prevents dangerous spontaneous combustion and ensures the safety of the entire plant.

Comprehensive fire protection solution

The fire protection system for biomass plants was implemented using the JUMO Wtrans B, a head transmitter with wireless measurement value transmission, which is available in various standard lengths depending on the size of the biomass stack. The sensor can be used either as a lance or in a screw version and can be easily inserted into the core of the stack thanks to its sturdy handle. Made of stainless steel, it is resistant to cellulose acids and high temperatures, which ensures a long service life and high reliability.

For special requirements, individual lengths are available on request.

The signal from the fire protection sensor is transmitted wirelessly and almost interference-free with a radio frequency of 868.4 MHz to the JUMO Wtrans receiver T01, which supports up to 16 sensors. Thanks to the optimal placement of the antenna and antenna amplifier, ranges of over 2 km can be achieved. Low battery levels are indicated early by the receiver, so that functional reliability in the monitoring system is always guaranteed.

Central monitoring and evaluation

For large systems that require more than 16 sensors, the receiver can be replaced by the modular JUMO vari-TRON 300 PLC, which enables the operation of up to 32 sensors and is also expandable.

The measured values can be transferred directly to the JUMO Cloud or JUMO smartWARE SCADA and enable quick, easy and browser-based access to all process data. Even larger biomass plants with numerous stacks can be easily monitored centrally in a single dashboard.

Early detection of overheating

The new fire protection system ensures early detection of overheating in all biomass stacks. This includes biofuels such as wood chips, pellets and sawdust, agricultural products such as straw, hay, grain and peat, and waste from waste centers. The system ensures safe operation, prevents fires and thus minimises energy losses and negative environmental impacts. Thanks to the reliable wireless transmission and flexible sensor integration, continuous monitoring is possible, which supports the sustainable and efficient use of biomass.