ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE COVER STORY
MODULAR AUTOMATION FOR MULTI-STAGE AND FLEXIBLE WATER TREATMENT
Fluctuating water requirements and pollution levels are demands to which more and more manufacturers in the process industries need to adjust. An answer is water plants based on the "Lego" principle where users can ‘number up instead of scaling up’, adding or switching on additional modules in line with requirements. The CPX platform from Festo provides a perfect solution for this modular automation concept
F
lexible and modular production plants require autonomous intelligent units
able to be connected simply and reliably with a master control system, while also allowing communication between them, an idea which is a cornerstone of Industry 4.0. With this concept, adaptive, self-configuring and self-organising flexible water treatment plants with a high level of networking provide a way to deal with changing demands. In many situations this functional modularisation of plant sections is a sensible step for batch processes and systems with various filtration technologies.
automation technology of the overall plant. "It is important to be able to expand or modify plants easily without having to go immediately to large-scale plants. In other words, numbering up instead of scaling up,” explains Kai Feller, Product Manager at Festo Ltd.
AUTOMATION PLATFORM CPX The Festo automation platform CPX has proved to be ideal as the central element of a modular automation system. This flexible platform can accept not only pneumatic components in its IP65/67 variants but can also
Highly flexible skids are fully transportable filter systems for situations when the demand for water is low, requiring the treatment of up to 1000m³ of water per day. With transportable filter systems, water production can be started up very quickly
‘By implementing decentralised, intelligent solutions in the individual modules there is no need to re-program and re-configure the application software’
MODULAR AND INTELLIGENT The idea is that each module will incorporate all the automation functions which it requires to carry out its own process. Of course, automation functions could also be provided by a central control system, however, a master control system is not designed for modular plants with their requirement for easy replacement of individual modules. A modular concept on the other hand relies on an adaptable and autonomous automation system. By implementing decentralised,
intelligent solutions in the individual modules there is no need to re- program and re-configure the application software. The modules can be integrated with minimal effort into the overall automation solution. This allows several automated modules to be added to the plant without the need to extend the
14 NOVEMBER 2016 | PROCESS & CONTROL
control local and remote I/O for a number of sensors, for example for pressure monitoring or temperature measurement, on a modular basis.
VARIANTS OF SKIDS While, for example, pump skids, with their low level of complexity, require only
a few valve slices in the pneumatic section of a CPX/MPA, filter module skids also need analogue inputs and outputs for pressure monitoring. More complex modules such as a CIP skid, which comprises plant sections and containers for cleaning agents and the mixing of cleaning solutions, require further automation modules on the CPX/MPA such as inputs for temperature measurement or a controller for the proportional technology. These skids must operate autonomously and be extremely reliable. They communicate continuously with a master controller which manages the overall system. Another advantage of the skids is that the costs for laying cables and wiring are comparatively low.
ADVANTAGES FOR ENGINEERING These are not the only advantages of modular automation. For a complete process industry plant, using modules makes the engineering process faster and more cost-efficient, as there is no need to modify the entire automation concept when expanding the plant, but only to connect the relevant automation modules to the management system. This ensures seamless communication between the various levels of the automation pyramid. For OEMs, the modular concept also
The central element for modular automation: the Festo automation platform CPX
means that it is possible to produce high volumes of uniform modules or even to produce skids for stock. As a result, they can enjoy economies of scale both in production and assembly, and reduce their costs. At the same time, the manufacturers' ability to deliver is enhanced, allowing end users to reach their markets more quickly with the right production quantities of new products.
Festo
www.festo.co.uk/water
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
