Boilers for agriculture and the agro-industry
For this industry TIPO Kotlogradnja designs and manufactures: biomass boilers; industrial steam boilers; hot water boilers; warm water boilers.
Each boiler is designed and manufactured to the required capacity, process requirements, fuel type and operating conditions of the plant.
The role of heat in agricultural production and processing
In agriculture and agro-industry, heat is first of all a process requirement. Greenhouses need supplemental heating mainly at night and in cold spells, and a central boiler can distribute hot water to root-zone or bench tubing or to water-to-air heat exchangers. One source then serves several structures, and the heat-producing equipment stays out of the growing space. Grain and seed dryers, like fruit and vegetable dehydrators, remove moisture with a stream of hot, dry, moving air; artificial dryers can be heated by electricity, gas, diesel or biomass and give consistent drying regardless of the weather.
The load is strongly seasonal: greenhouse heating peaks in the coldest months, and drying campaigns follow the harvest. Depending on the consumer, warm water boilers are considered for heating buildings, hot water for larger systems, and steam boilers where processing requires steam. A plant that runs only part of the year is harder to justify economically, so investors look for additional year-round consumers, such as hot water for washing or pasteurization.
Requirements and regulations that influence boiler selection
In drying, product quality depends on heat control: excessive heat causes case hardening, shrinkage, browning and poor rehydration of fruit. A stable and adjustable heat supply is therefore needed, not merely sufficient output. A separate question is the choice between direct and indirect drying. The decision depends on nutritional and safety aspects; fires occur with both designs, and the decisive factor is carelessness or improper operation rather than dryer type. Sunflower, oilseed rape and sorghum are especially delicate to dry. If heat reaches the dryer through a heat exchanger, the product does not contact flue gases, which should be agreed with the dryer manufacturer.
Boilers are designed and built to EN 12952 and EN 12953, and pressure equipment in the EU carries the CE mark under Directive 2014/68/EU; see standards and certifications. Emissions are a separate matter: in the EU, Directive (EU) 2015/2193 covers medium combustion plants irrespective of fuel, limits sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and dust, and requires a permit or registration. Outside the EU, national rules apply, so the investor confirms the conditions with the competent authority.
- how heat reaches the consumer: heat exchanger, closed circuit or direct drying
- stability and controllability of temperature at the consumer
- fire protection measures, especially when drying oilseeds
- emission rules and the need for flue gas cleaning
Fuel, agricultural residues and sustainability
Straw, hulls and stones arise on the farm or in the processing plant, which makes them a natural fuel for biomass boilers. Non-woody biomass, however, behaves differently from wood chips: it contains more ash, chlorine, nitrogen and sulphur, and its ash melts more readily, so fouling, slagging and corrosion are real risks. Such fuels are therefore burned in furnaces designed or adjusted specifically for them, with particular attention to corrosion of the boiler and the flue gas system.
Fuel quality is decisive. ISO 17225-6 defines quality classes for pellets made from non-woody biomass (herbaceous, fruit and aquatic biomass and their blends), and moisture, ash content and chemical composition strongly affect cost and operation. Some grains and residues form hard slag deposits that disturb combustion. Research on small grate-fired systems shows that additives such as limestone and kaolin can reduce slagging, but any solution has to be confirmed on the actual fuel. Replacing fossil fuel with local residues matches the sector's drive towards greener production and greater energy independence of the farm.
What to define when selecting the boiler
The starting point is the seasonal consumption profile, not only the peak load. A biomass boiler can cover just a share of total demand, with a supplementary source, because systems work best when running steadily, while an oversized unit that is hard to throttle wastes fuel in mild weather. An existing heat source is often a practical backup for the coldest nights and for downtime. Sizing is based on design conditions rather than average outdoor conditions.
Beyond the heat profile, the investor defines the fuel, the heat carrier and consumers, emission requirements, space and reserve capacity. Boiler water quality is addressed through water treatment, and the guide how to choose an industrial boiler gives an overview of the criteria.
- seasonal profile and the share of heat covered by the biomass boiler
- backup heat source and heat storage
- fuel analysis: moisture, ash, chemical composition, form
- fuel storage and automatic feeding
- ash removal and flue gas cleaning
Boiler types for this industry
Biomass boilers
A biomass boiler burns wood chips, pellets, sawdust, bark or straw to produce steam, hot or warm water from a renewable fuel, with lower fuel costs and CO₂ emissions.
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Industrial steam boilers
Saturated or superheated steam for industrial, process and power applications. Shell and water-tube boilers for solid fuel, biomass, liquid and gaseous fuel.
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Hot water boilers
Hot water for industrial and energy systems and district heating. Shell and water-tube boilers for all common fuels.
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Warm water boilers
Warm water for building heating and process needs, from residential and public buildings to light industry.
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Industrial steam boilers
- Agriculture and agro-industry
- straw, stones, husks and other agricultural residues as fuel
Hot water boilers
- Agriculture and agro-industry
- biomass for heat production
Warm water boilers
- Agriculture
- greenhouses, dryers and processing facilities
Frequently asked questions
Which types of biomass can the boiler burn?
The boiler can be designed to burn wood chips, pellets, sawdust, bark, briquettes, baled straw, sunflower and soybean husks, fruit stones and various residues from agricultural, wood and other production. If a company generates larger quantities of residues or waste that could potentially be used as fuel, it can contact us to find a suitable solution: we refer the investor to the necessary tests and material analyses, and once the results are available our team performs the calculations, defines the furnace, grate and fuel feeding design and prepares a technical solution and offer. Whether the material can be used for energy depends on its origin and composition, moisture, particle size, calorific value, ash content and other properties, as well as on the applicable regulations, permitted emissions and flue gas cleaning requirements; not every type of waste can be burned in a standard biomass boiler, and waste incineration or co-incineration plants are subject to special technical conditions and emission controls.
How much do fuel costs fall when switching to biomass?
It depends on the local biomass price and the fuel being replaced; biomass is often a by-product of wood or agricultural production, so savings are greatest where the investor already has its own fuel.
How are ash and flue gas cleaning handled?
With automatic de-ashing and ash transport, a multicyclone and, where required, a bag filter to meet emission limits.
Is a biomass boiler fully automated?
Yes. Fuel feeding, combustion control, de-ashing and protective functions are run by the automation, so minimal operator supervision is needed.
Which fuels can a TIPO Kotlogradnja steam boiler use?
Solid fuels (coal), biomass (wood chips, pellets, straw, husks), liquid and gaseous fuels (natural gas, light fuel oil, heavy fuel oil) and gas–hydrogen blends. The furnace and burners are designed for the chosen fuel.
Does a heat storage tank make sense in a biomass greenhouse heating system?
Often it does. A large insulated hot water tank stores heat and lets the boiler run more steadily instead of constantly following night and day swings in demand. Its size and connection depend on the consumption profile and the chosen boiler, and are settled in the design.
Why are straw and hulls not burned in the same furnace as wood chips?
Non-woody biomass has more ash, chlorine, nitrogen and sulphur, and its ash melts more readily than wood ash. This raises the risk of slagging, fouling and corrosion. The furnace, grate, ash removal and materials are therefore adapted to the actual fuel, and a fuel analysis is carried out before design.
Does the product in the dryer come into contact with flue gases?
It depends on the dryer design. In direct drying it does; in indirect drying the heat from the boiler is passed through a heat exchanger. The choice depends on the product, nutritional requirements and safety. Delicate crops such as sunflower, oilseed rape and sorghum need particular care, so the decision is made together with the dryer manufacturer.
Standards we design and build to
TIPO Kotlogradnja designs and manufactures boilers and complete boiler plants according to the investor's requirements, fuel type, capacity and operating regime. The process covers requirement analysis, solution proposal, offer, design, material procurement, manufacturing, erection, testing and commissioning. Whatever the complexity of the project or the market, the equipment is designed and built to European and international standards, including EN 12952, EN 12953, EN 13445, EN 13480, ASME BPVC and AD 2000, in line with the project documentation and the investor's requirements.
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