Emission measurements in stables, exhaust air cleaning systems and biogas plants

As part of the licensing procedure for animal keeping and during acceptance and regular checks of bio filters, it is often necessary to measure the odour, ammonia or dust levels, ? a case for LUFA Nord-West. The required measurement technology for identifying leaks in biogas plants is also available.

For the licensing of stables, in most cases, it is sufficient to assess using standard values together with a spread calculation, similar to those performed by the Chamber of Agriculture. It is more complicated, if the stable that needs licensing is already built and if the licensing is dependent on the additional pollution caused by it for the neighbouring houses. Here, often a local inspection with test persons helps to get an impression of the emission situation. These relatively involved measurements are usually taken over an entire year, to be able to sufficiently take all weather conditions into account. As with all measurements, precise planning of the measurements and carefully selected parameters are essential for success.

For exhaust air plants and bio filters, a licensing measurement and a regular check of function are a prerequisite for the licensing. The untreated air is measured before entry into the filter ? and the cleaned air is measured after exiting the filter. These are then analysed, for instance, for their ammonia content and in doing so its adherence to the required threshold values is determined. LUFA Nord-West has acquired great experience in measuring odour, ammonia, dust and further gases during testing of diverse air cleaning plants within the framework of the DLG-Signum-Test.

Should methane leak from a biogas plant, this can be detected quickly using suitable measuring instruments, and we have these.

Do you have any questions about this topic? Our laboratory manager for emissions and immissions, Mr. Lars Broer, is happy to answer them for you.