In industrial projects there is always a moment where you realize that a standard burner is simply not going to solve the problem. On paper it might look sufficient. The capacity fits, the fuel type is listed, the emission class is acceptable. But once you start looking at the actual process conditions, you see that the reality is different.
Industrial installations rarely operate under stable and predictable circumstances. Fuel quality fluctuates. Biogas can vary significantly in calorific value. Residual gases may need to be incorporated into the combustion process. Emission limits are not only defined by European standards but also by local authorities who can impose additional requirements. And above all, the installation cannot afford downtime.
When fuel composition changes, flame stability becomes critical. A burner that performs perfectly on natural gas does not automatically behave the same way when low calorific biogas is introduced. If the calorific values are far apart, you must design for stability from the start. That means considering combustion chamber dimensions, airflow control, ignition behaviour and recirculation strategies before anything is built.
A catalogue burner assumes predictability. Industrial processes are rarely predictable.
In many projects we first sit down with the boiler manufacturer and the installer to discuss what is technically required. What type of boiler is selected, what is the furnace geometry, how will the system be operated, what are the emission targets, and how will fuel quality vary over time. Only when those parameters are clear can a burner configuration be defined that will perform reliably.
If you treat the burner as a separate component, you introduce risk. The burner is part of a boiler, the boiler is part of a process, and the process defines the demands. Everything is connected. If one element is standardized while the rest is not, performance will suffer. As we always say: the combination makes the result.
Biogas does not have a consistent composition. Its calorific value can vary considerably, sometimes even within the same installation. This affects flame stability, combustion behaviour and emissions. That is why Vitotherm starts every biogas project by analysing the fuel and the complete process, rather than selecting a standard burner. Gas composition, operating conditions, emission requirements and boiler characteristics determine the final burner design.
Within horticulture, CO₂ plays a direct and measurable role in crop yield. It is not merely a by-product of combustion, but a functional input to the cultivation process.
Horticulture has been a solid foundation for us for many years. That remains unchanged. It is a market where installations operate continuously and where daily practice leaves little room for error. You quickly see what works and what doesn’t. That reality keeps you sharp.
