Page 42 - trends in automation
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From the master PLC
(CECX-X-C1 at the top of
the picture) to the process actuators: The
holistic system approach, including process
visualisation, simplifies the operating phase
and offers greater transparency.
documentation which Festo supplied and
the installation of subsystems through-
out the plant. “This made it easy for us
at Fypasa to concentrate fully on our core
competencies,” continues Plascencia.
During the commissioning phase, the
Festo project engineers conducted pro-
cess tests for each unit within the plant.
For example, the operation of the process
valves and the collection of fermentation
gas was tested at the fermentation tower.
Greater transparency
The two fermentation towers are
equipped with two types of process
valves – gate valves for the sludge inlet
and butterfly valves for the fermentation
gas discharge. The pneumatic actuators
used on the sensor/actuator level to
open and close the process valves have
significant advantages over electrical
installations: greater durability, longer
service intervals and better safety under
overload conditions. At the individual
control and process control level, the
master controller PLC CECXX-C1 supplied
by Festo acts as a programmable logic
controller. It feeds data to the SCADA
software VipWin to allow process visuali-
sation. Well protected in seven control
cabinets, CPX/MPA valve terminals gath-
er the input and output signals, feed
these to the master PLC and activate the
pneumatic actuators. The automation
platform CPX also provides functions for
remote maintenance, remote diagnostics,
a web server, text messages and an
e-mail alarm.
This holistic system approach, including
process visualisation, offers the plant
operator greater transparency during the
operating phase. What is more, because
of the intrinsic simplicity of pneumatics,
the system is easier to maintain and
saves costs as staff require little training.
The result is increased plant availability
and efficiency. This will help ensure that
in future the city of León continues to earn
its title of ‘Champion City for Water’.
Global view:
Pneumatic linear actuators type DLP used at the
sensor/actuator level to open and close the process valves.
