HEERLEN – THE NETHERLANDS
Context & Project Description
The infested materials at the treatment site contains Japanese knotweed rhizomes, known as a parasitic plant species in Europe. The site is located on the roadside in the municipality of Heerlen in the Netherlands where a small plant of Japanese knotweed was growing.
The treatment objective is to reach a certain temperature to prevent the growth of new plants through these rhizomes and stop its invasion. There are two specificities in this project: no vapor tubes since no polluted vapor and secondary tubes to minimize the number of burners but optimize the heating in the complete area. The area was about 25m² and the depth of treatment was 4 meters.
Equipment
8 Gas Smart Burners working with propane gas and 16 heating tubes.
Treatment target
- 80°C at cold points for 1 day
or - 50°C at cold points for 3 days.
Monitoring
• 6 temperature probe wells at cold points (at depths 1.5m and 3m),
• Gas reading at the vent for exhaust gases.
Planning
End of May to mid-July 2022.
Conclusion
Haemers Technologies’ thermal treatment of the Japanese knotweed plant has proven so far to have worked. No new plant can be seen on site or in samples in good regrowth condition. The regrowth will continue to be monitored during the next weeks.
Key Data
Contaminants
Japanese Knotweed
Max. Concentration
/
Volume
94m³
Tonnage
169 Tons
Nb of Heating Tubes (in total)
16 heating tubes
8 burners
Temperature Target
80°C for 1 day or 50°C for 3 days
Project Duration
14 days
Treatment Targets
Prevents the growth of new plants
Location
Heerlen, The Netherlands
Client
Municipality of Heerlen
Partner
Thermal Clean Shift
Consultant
Plantengezondheidsdienst
Date
2022