Plant Management


environmental regulations, companies are increasingly focused on improving energy efficiency. The cost of power and utilities is often the largest controllable operating expense after the purchase of raw materials at most large operating sites. ROMeo Utilities Optimisation software automatically, and


in real-time, optimises its energy supply within the context of changing economic and plant needs and environmental constraints. It is especially attractive for plants that have varying energy prices or the changing possibilities to buy, produce or sell power. The solution can result in significant reductions in


energy cost, with a typical payback in 6-12 months or less. Key benefits include: a 3-5 per cent reduction in energy consumption; ability to reduce carbon dioxide, SOx and NOx emissions; automatically takes advantage of off-peak power pricing; optimises fuel type, boiler and turbine load distributions; and better fuel gas management with fewer alarms. The solution is capable of rigorously modelling all components of a typical industrial utility system including turbines, boilers and power distribution systems. Its patented graphical scheduling system enables automation of data gathering, model execution and reporting. Recently Invensys also added to its plant optimisation


offerings with a new solution that complements its existing portfolio of SimSci-Esscor hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) offerings. To help refiners meet the increasing demands of today’s operating environment, the company has issued two new offerings: a yield accounting solution and an off-sites solution integrated with planning and scheduling systems. The company further announced that it has acquired


Spiral Software, a privately held company headquartered in Cambridge, UK. Spiral Software provides the only integrated refining-industry solution designed from the ground up,


bringing together feedstock data management, planning and scheduling. This means that Invensys Operations Management’s SimSci-Esscor solutions will now fully support and optimise the entire refining value chain, from crude trading to supply-chain distribution, including lifecycle modelling from design to start-up to performance optimisation - potentially saving customers millions of dollars every year (Fig. 1).


Optimising confectionary processes


Operating from sites in the UK and USA, Baker Perkins is a leader in the supply of high-output machines and complete process lines to the worldwide confectionery industry. The company’s machines and services utilise the latest technology, to maximise efficiency and minimise cost of ownership. The company’s new generation ServoForm depositor is used for sugar confectionery such as hard and soft candies, lollipops, toffees, fondants, fudges and jellies. The servo technology used offers much greater flexibility and control leading to lower labour costs, reduced energy bills and faster payback. An Allen-Bradley CompactLogix programmable


automation controller (PAC) from Rockwell Automation controls all aspects of machine operation while an Allen- Bradley PanelView 1250+ touch screen HMI, mounted in the main control panel, helps operators to set up and monitor both the cooking and depositing processes from a single location. Initial process settings are stored as a recipe and are


downloaded to the machines, setting up the line at the touch of a button. The new ServoForm uses Allen-Bradley PowerFlex variable-speed drives combined with Allen- Bradley Kinetix servo drives to adjust and synchronise the various movements of the head, pistons and mould circuit for maximum precision and efficient continuous operation. l


B


Developments in trace heating With BSTW II, BARTEC relieves the


ARTEC’s new electro-mechanical controller and limiter have been developed for electric trace heating


systems in hazardous areas. With its direct connection of self-limiting heating cables and the high current carrying capacity ranges, costs are saved and the operational safety is increased. The Ex standard (EN/IEC 60079-30-1)


of the electric trace heating stipulates that all components which are installed in the heating cable have to be evaluated mechanically as well as temperature technically before they are taken into operation. When the heating cable was directly


connected in the past, the operator was responsible for this critical task of taking over the responsibility for the individual applications in the system acceptance test on site.


user of this work as well as responsibility, and has set itself the target of testing and approving the entire system from controller to limiter with heating bands in all combinations. Thus, self-limiting heating cables, such as PSBL, PSB, MSB and HSB, can be connected directly to the controller housing and can be operated in hazardous areas.


During the installation, an additional


connection housing and thus clamping point or individual approval on site can be dispensed with. This reduction of fault influences increases the safety and reliability. At the same time, this approach considerably saves costs in laying, material, installation and operation: up to €150 to €200 for every controlled heating circuit. The family is available as one-channel


controllers and limiters, as a combination unit with a controller and limiter for constant resistance heating cables, but also as multiple units. Up to three heating circuits can be connected to the housing. l


For more information ✔ at www.engineerlive.com/asia


BARTEC GmbH is based in Mergentheim, Germany. www.bartec.de


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