HEAT TRANSFER HARNESSING REMOTE POTENTIAL
Matt Hale, International sales & marketing director, HRS Heat Exchangers, discusses how digital process control technology, swiftly adopted during the pandemic, will become even more beneficial to processing
improvements in process control and communication technology, it is easier than ever for equipment manufacturers to offer remote assistance and monitoring. The restrictions on travel and face-to-face working imposed the Coronavirus pandemic highlighted the benefits of remote commissioning to companies, many of whom are now looking to extract the most benefit from this technology. HRS now offers remote telemetry and
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control options for all applicable products and systems, using technology from both Siemens and Allen-Bradley Products.
Like other manufacturers, HRS are keen to exploit the potential of the process controls, which regulate and monitor the processes involved in its heat exchange systems, to improve levels of operational knowledge, process management and operational efficiency. Process controls can incorporate a range of
functions, such as visualisation and Human Machine Interface (HMI) solutions, as well as programming tools and advanced software applications. HRS utilises a combination of PLCs and graphic terminals to provide easy to use, reliable controls for HMI operation. HRS also utilises a standard suite of bespoke
software which has been developed in-house to monitor and control key parameters such as material levels, flow rates and density, as well as aspects such as valve position, temperature and the flows of inputs and outputs. This standard data can easily be transferred to remote systems – either those belonging to the client or HRS itself, using either hardwired (Ethernet) or wireless (4G/5G) communication technology. Security is a key consideration for both the hardware manufacturers and HRS software engineers,
hanks to developments such as Industry 4.0, increasing digitisation, and the development of the cloud, together with
meaning that clients can be confident that their data and equipment will remain safe. Remote operation and monitoring provide a
number of benefits, including the ability for clients to view and control equipment from a central point, something which is beneficial for complex installations, or those which are spread across numerous buildings or sites. It also allows HRS staff to assist with operations such as commissioning, upgrading or running-in, and to provide ongoing technical support should this be required. The Coronavirus pandemic has introduced
many new businesses to virtual or remote commissioning, demonstrating benefits that go beyond avoiding the need to fly personnel around the globe. For example, clients can use remote commission to test automation functions in advance, discovering and rectifying faults well before the factory acceptance test (FAT) stage. Looking to the future, digital process control
technology is likely to become even more beneficial to processing industries. In the next five to 10 years we will see a real shift in process control – facilitated by technical developments such as open architecture, data exchange protocols, 5G and HTML5 –
Matt Hale: ‘Industry 4.0 is a term that is often discussed, but not always fully appreciated. However, the last year has begun to show us what the near future will look like for process control’
which will make it even easier for systems to talk directly to each other – the need to download of swap CSV files and spreadsheets of data will become obsolete. As clients and suppliers increase their
engagement with this technology, the improved communication will begin to fulfil its potential to provide long term process and efficiency improvements. Control software can be constantly kept up to date, helping to keep systems operating at peak efficiency, but it is perhaps in the area of simulation that the greatest benefits could eventually be realised. Engineers and commentators increasingly
refer to the concept of a ‘digital twin’ – a virtual version of a physical system or piece of equipment which can be used to simulate any change to operation, from differences in product specification to adjusting physical settings such as valve diameter or tube length. Such systems are already widespread in the design phase of heat exchange equipment, but the difference in the future is that they will be used for the day-to-day management and operation of equipment. When coupled with artificial intelligence (AI), these systems can determine the optimum hygiene regimes, best energy efficiency and the most productive time of day to run certain operations. While our technology is not at this advanced
level yet, there is no doubt that as an industry we are getting closer. The idea of a ‘digital twin’ is not an all or nothing term. Digital twins will probably develop gradually as plant- and operational-data is slowly combined with corresponding models of the system, resulting in cloud-based applications which will mirror, and then control, the status of the physical equipment. Of course, this means information technology (IT) and operational engineering functions will need to become even closer, a trend which we are already seeing.
HRS Heat Exchangers
www.hrs-heatexchangers.com
JULY/AUGUST 2021 | PROCESS & CONTROL 9
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