From feedstock to flight, precision at every stage

KROHNE bridges the gap between classical oil and gas expertise and renewable feedstock production through advanced process instrumentation. Yannick Farine, Industry Manager Biofuels and Bioenergy, speaks to Biofuels International.


How would you describe the current situation for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and which dynamics are shaping the market most strongly at the moment?
The SAF market right now can be best be described as a policy-driven market in early scale-up, meaning we are witnessing ‘baby pictures’ of what could be coming next over the years.
There’s still uncertainty in the short term as it’s a young market and scaling up is complex.
The cost of projects and supply constraints don’t make it easy to start producing SAF today despite the current regulations that are in place.
There is still so much uncertainty. However, the end-goal is clear: We need to decarbonise the aviation industry, sooner rather than later.
Despite the challenges ahead, technology is evolving such as with new alcohol to jet technology that is coming onstream, which will help diversify these feedstock constraints.

What role does KROHNE’s instrumentation and measurement technology play in SAF production? And how does it remain economically viable?
The SAF industry effectively brings together two worlds: traditional oil and gas, and the production of renewable feedstocks.
These feedstocks come from sectors such as edible oils, bioethanol and biogas, in which KROHNE has developed extensive expertise.
Used cooking oil (UCO), for example, behaves very differently from the final aviation fuel product.
When designing and operating SAF plants, it is essential to understand both the characteristics of the upstream feedstocks and the requirements of the downstream refining process.
Feedstock variability, hydrogen service and maintenance needs are significant cost drivers in SAF production—areas where instrumentation plays a critical role in optimising performance.
At present, differential pressure (DP) flow is the most widely used flow‑measurement technology in SAF plants, as it can withstand a broad range of demanding process conditions. However, certain applications may benefit from alternative technologies.
To address these critical applications, we aim to provide effective, reliable solutions that extend equipment lifetime.
This approach reduces maintenance costs, enhances reliability and lowers overall operational expenditure (OPEX).
KROHNE offers a full portfolio of standard instrumentation for flow, level, pressure and temperature, as well as specialised instruments for challenging applications.
Alongside individual devices, we also supply tailored, integrated solutions designed to meet the unique demands of SAF production.
Our goal is to optimise processes and minimise maintenance — creating an SAF plant you can rely on for many years.

What challenges has KROHNE encountered when adapting its measurement solutions to the unique requirements of SAF feedstocks and processes?
SAF production operates under extremely demanding process conditions. High temperatures, high pressures, the presence of hydrogen and varying feedstocks containing fibres, sand and other solids all place significant stress on process equipment.
These are applications that are not easily measured using traditional instrumentation.
Unlike many other technologies, ultrasonic flowmeters have no flow restrictions, capillaries or similar internal components, giving them a wide range of advantages.
They are well suited to typical SAF process streams, including abrasive feedstocks, gases, hydrogen and even high‑pressure steam.
Their ability to operate at temperatures up to 600 °C and at high pressures for both liquids and gases makes them one of the few technologies capable of delivering accurate measurement across the SAF industry.
In hydrogen service, KROHNE offers a complete portfolio.
This includes ultrasonic flowmeters for both standard process measurement and custody‑transfer applications.
Advanced noise‑filtering technology in ultrasonic gas flowmeters enables accurate, reliable measurement in hydrogen streams despite the high velocity of sound — a challenge that has traditionally limited conventional ultrasonic devices.
Additionally, pressure transmitters with ceramic or gold‑plated diaphragms are available to withstand hydrogen service under extreme temperature and pressure conditions.
When the highest accuracy is required, Coriolis mass flowmeters remain the preferred option.
However, classic bent‑tube designs can struggle with abrasive feedstocks and two‑phase flow.
Single straight‑tube Coriolis meters significantly reduce wear compared with bent‑tube models.
These instruments are already proven in refineries, harsh oil and gas applications such as drilling mud, and in UCO recycling plants. Another key challenge is entrained gas and two‑phase flow.
Entrained gas management technology allows the mass flowmeter to operate reliably under two‑phase conditions, even at temperatures up to 400 °C.

 How do you think the future of SAF will look like?
I believe the market will shift from its current uncertainty towards a more mature phase, leading to significant growth in the near future.
To achieve this, we must continue to innovate, develop new technologies, broaden our feedstock range and optimise existing plants.
Most importantly, we need to build experience and deepen our market knowledge.
Ultimately, our goal is to narrow the price gap with fossil fuels and establish SAF as an attractive, low‑carbon alternative.

 

For more information: Visit krohne.com