#2 Mystery wood, boiler trouble
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Context
In Switzerland, many district heating systems run on wood energy. However, operators face a major issue: the heterogeneity and uncertainty in the quality of the delivered wood. Wood can vary significantly in moisture content, density, composition (species type, presence of leaves or sawmill residues), or degree of compaction. This variability directly impacts boiler performance and combustion stability.
Currently, operators only have access to empirical or occasional indicators to assess wood quality before it enters the system. Available tools are often limited to spot-checking methods, which are not truly representative of field conditions.
Challenge
The absence of reliable and real-time quality measurements makes managing these systems extremely challenging. Operators must manually adjust combustion parameters based on their instincts or rough visual assessments of the material. This can lead to:
- Fluctuating or suboptimal efficiency,
- Excessive wood consumption,
- Increased risk of producing unwanted compounds (slag, nitrogen oxides, etc.),
- Uncertainty in billing (wood is often billed by weight or volume, without a clear link to its actual calorific value).
Objective
Identify or develop a solution that enables better characterization of wood energy quality before it enters the boiler. The goal is to anticipate combustion behavior, allow for automatic system adjustments, and provide a more reliable basis for energy billing.
Partner
Sinergy’s mission is to provide optimal comfort to the people and businesses of Martigny and the surrounding region, while achieving ambitious sustainability goals. This involves supplying renewable energy, managing the water cycle sustainably, and maintaining strong global connections.
Together with its clients and partners, Sinergy aims for carbon neutrality and is committed to creating value while preserving natural resources.
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