LOOS Steam Boilers Ensure the Energy Supply in the Magdeburg Biodiesel Factory
07 August 2008
Rudolf Diesel had already mentioned the idea of using plant oils as fuels in his patent specification for the diesel engine in 1893. Since then, the biofuels market has developed rapidly. According to the EU Commission, its share of total fuel consumption is set to rise from 2% today to 20-25% by 2030.
The Biodiesel Factory in Magdeburg-Rothensee is one of the largest German production plants for the manufacture of fuels from renewable raw materials. LOOS steam boiler systems have been used from the beginning to provide the necessary heat for the production processes. Right at the start of production in 2003, a LOOS UNIVERSAL single-flue steam boiler with a steam capacity of 6t/h was delivered. This was followed by a boiler with a 8t/h capacity when production expanded in 2005, and then a UNIVERSAL double-flue steam boiler with a capacity of 28t/h two years later, when the Plant II production unit was built. The boiler systems were completed by the addition of innovative LOOS modular technology, such as a WSM water service module and the LWA water analyser for water treatment, analysis and disposal. If necessary, LOOS specialists can analyse and manage the boilers using a remote access system. The risk of expensive production losses is dramatically reduced by the cost-effective Teleservice connection.
Oil is extracted at the Magdeburg biodiesel factory by hot pressing followed by refining. The seeds are crushed, briefly heated to nearly 100°C and pressed in a screw extrusion press. After this, the solids and sediment are removed from the oil in centrifuges and filters, and the oil is refined. Almost no waste is produced during the manufacture of biodiesel, and all the by-products can be sold.
All three boiler systems were installed by the experienced Magdeburg-based system engineer CIMBRIA SKET. The direct contact partner and sales office was the LOOS North Sales Office in local Hamburg.
LOOS INTERNATIONAL is established worldwide as a reliable supplier to the biodiesel industry. Many other biodiesel producers, such as Komagra and Elstar in Poland, Aragon (Spain), Enviral (Slovakia) and LMT Oleagineux (France), rely on the high-quality, modern steam generators built by LOOS.
In addition to conventional fuels, LOOS boilers are also ideally suited to liquid and gaseous biofuels. Many LOOS systems are already successfully operated using alternative fuels, such as biogases, biodiesel or animal fats.
