Plant Management
The system’s new sequencer tool enables companies easily to automate process procedures, perform system modifications, and sequence actions directly through HMI faceplates. If a process change is necessary or an abnormal event occurs, a user with the appropriate login privileges can modify the sequence directly from the HMI screen, rather than waiting for a control system expert to modify the procedure code. “The new PlantPAx sequencer tool eliminates the
need for custom-coded configurations to automate procedures for continuous processes,” explained Jason Wright, PlantPAx product manager, Rockwell Automation. “It’s intuitive, user-friendly interface helps operators see and understand the information they need, and makes procedures repeatable and easier to track.” The PlantPAx system further extends operator
effectiveness with a comprehensive HMI toolkit for effective display design and enhanced standards-based alarming. This allows the operator to focus directly on the process itself, reducing system downtime and incidents. The system also features an enhanced independent workstation (or network station) that offers process companies more flexibility in plant design - especially when integrating best-of-breed skids into multiple plants worldwide. “There is an industry trend to leverage process skids
for quicker line and plant expansion to help reduce time-to-market,” Wright said. “However, integrating these process skids into a traditional distributed control system (DCS) can create complexities and increase costs. In fact, for a traditional DCS, integration accounts for 50-60 per cent of the project costs for end users.” For example, skid integration often requires custom
data-mapping or duplicated code on the DCS. This is not the case with the PlantPAx system - the skid-based controller can be added as a native controller to the
system. Enhanced independent workstation capabilities help reduce the cost of integration by allowing the skid to share common infrastructure resources, such as user accounts and security settings, without losing application independence. This allows companies to leverage the specific application expertise of multiple skid vendors while providing a consistent operator experience.
A comprehensive automation solution Sasol, the international integrated energy and chemical company, has chosen Emerson Process Management for a comprehensive programme to automate its planned integrated gas-to-liquids (GTL) and world-scale ethane cracker complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The automation programme’s overall scope -
including dozens of integrated process units and more than 100,000 measurement and control points - makes it one of the largest Emerson has been awarded. Sasol anticipates a total investment of US$16-21
(€12-16 billion) in the two facilities. When completed, the GTL plant will transform the region’s abundant low-cost shale gas into high-performance, low-emissions diesel and other transportation fuels. The adjacent ethane cracker and derivatives plant will convert ethane to ethylene and other downstream derivatives. As main automation contractor, Emerson will
provide the majority of the process automation technologies, engineering, and ongoing support services for the operations under a long-term agreement. Emerson’s automation solution for the Sasol plants
is based on its PlantWeb digital plant architecture, which includes its industry-recognised control and safety systems, control valves, and measurement and analytical instruments. Initial automation planning and engineering work begins immediately. ■
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More accurate process design with aspenONE Exchange locations is now consolidated in one location.
spen Technology describes its new aspenONE Exchange as the first content marketplace for the process
industries.
The company says it revolutionises process design by providing engineers with a one-stop shop to source equipment data, third-party content, and AspenTech resources. “By referencing design information hosted in aspenONE Exchange, process engineers can build more comprehensive and more accurate models faster,” says the company.
With its broad range of engineering content and third-party equipment design information, aspenONE Exchange expands Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS into a comprehensive work environment and enables:
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www.engineerlive.com
■ More accurate designs earlier. Process engineers can source design information provided by third-party vendors such as equipment manufacturers, process licensors, and contractors and incorporate it into their flow sheets. The result is a more efficient workflow and more comprehensive models earlier in the design process.
■ The right information at the right time. With aspenONE Exchange’s powerful search capability, users can query thousands of content entries including third-party equipment data, AspenTech reference models, flowsheets, knowledgebase articles, and computer-based training to find the most relevant and useful items to improve their design. Information previously available across a variety of
■ Direct access to process engineers. By providing content in aspenONE Exchange, equipment manufacturers, process licensors, independent contractors, and other vendors directly reach the industry’s largest cross section of process engineers.
“AspenONE Exchange provides an excellent way for new and experienced users to explore well-documented, best practice process models. This shared environment increases the breadth of open innovation resources we rely upon in our computational process and product design efforts,” commented Eric M Cordi, who is associate research fellow with pharmaceutical company Pfizer. ■
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