“For biogas plant operators, the feedstock mix is becoming a more important operational decision. There is still considerable untapped potential in substrate processing that can be used to improve the efficiency of a biogas plant,” says Lars Mester, Director Sales Europe at Vogelsang. He adds: “If the substrate is processed in the best possible way, this has a positive effect on efficiency throughout the entire digestion process. With our range of solid matter feeders, we offer our customers a variety of solutions that can be adapted to their feedstock and individual conditions of the plant.”
MixXPump for silage from biomass
For example, the MixXPump solid matter feeder is designed for easy-to-handle input materials such as corn silage or vegetable scraps. The HiCone conical progressive cavity pump is the core component of the MixXPump. It reliably conveys the solids, which have previously been mixed with a liquid phase such as slurry or recirculated liquid – into the digester as a suspension. Thanks to its flat design, the MixXPump can be easily integrated into both existing and new plant concepts and systems.
EnergyJet for renewable raw materials and agricultural residues
The EnergyJet is specifically designed for feeding typical energy crops such as corn silage, as well as more demanding substrats feedstock such as whole-plant silage or dried chicken manure. It is designed to handle the specific properties of these solids and is particularly resistant to foreign matter and wear. The EnergyJet mixes solids and liquid into a bacteria-friendly biosuspension, combining the advantages of liquid and dry solid matter feeding. This ensures trouble-free feeding of the digester with conventional energy crops and agricultural residues.
PreMix for demanding substrates with foreign matter
The universal and flexible PreMix liquid feeding system reliably processes fibrous and bulky input materials such as cattle manure and corn stover, as well as organic waste and food waste, in four steps. The unit combines the HiCone progressive cavity pump and the RotaCut RCX wet cutter. The latest version of the wet cutter features demand-based speed control, resulting in reduced energy consumption and less wear. The powerful cutting unit chops down even fibrous solids and thoroughly mixes everything into a finely processed, homogeneous suspension. Heavy material such as stones contained in the input materials is separated by the solids dosing unit and discharged during operation using the optional Debris Removal System (DRS).
HiCone: adjust instead of replacing parts
The HiCone conical progressive cavity pump is on display at the Vogelsang booth as a core component of the MixXPump and PreMix liquid feeding system, as well as a standalone solution. It is characterized by the conical shape of its conveying elements and a clever adjustment system. Vogelsang has expanded its portfolio to include new sizes and configurations, making it possible to tailor the pump technology even more precisely to specific operating conditions. The new options also make it even easier to adapt and retrofit the HiCone into existing systems.
Its conical rotor-stator geometry makes it possible to compensate for wear on the conveying elements through precise adjustment. This avoids costly and time-consuming part replacements. Should the rotor and stator become need to be replaced after a prolonged period of operation, Vogelsang’s QuickService concept simplifies the process: the stator and rotor can be swung out and replaced quickly without dismantling the piping. Downtime is minimized, allowing the feeding of the digester to continue with virtually no interruption. This ensures a stable digestion process and a consistently high gas yield.
Vogelsang at EnergyDecentral, November 10–13, 2026, Hannover Messe: Hall 25, Booth H18