PLCs, DCSs & Controllers


PCI combustion control technology

October 2008 PLCs, DCSs & Controllers

Today, coal cost is impacting heavily on the operating expenses associated with boiler operation. Local company Boiler Combustion Technology quickly realised the huge potential of developing alternative combustion control technology for coal fired boilers in the quest for energy efficiency. The company reports that it is able to save up to 25% on coal consumption and reductions of as much as 60% on boiler fan electricity requirements.

Boiler Combustion Technology claims its PLC-based control solution is a cost saver
Boiler Combustion Technology claims its PLC-based control solution is a cost saver

Doing away with conventional control processes, the company’s engineers decided to employ the power of modern day electronic control technologies to make every bit of coal count, to save valuable energy and reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Driving the entire combustion process is a Rexroth Bosch L20 PLC in conjunction with a VCP05 HMI, which is used to adjust control variables for different boiler requirements.

The system provides accurate combustion control and interactive boiler operation, allowing the operator to change critical variables such as coal mass density and chemical composition. The system offers visualisation of the length of the fire on the stoker, which assists the operator when setting the under grate dampers and the guillotine.

Should clients require full automation the system can also be configured to automate the setting of the guillotine.

For more information contact Georg Venter, Tectra Automation, +27 (0)11 971 9400, [email protected], www.tectra.co.za





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

ABB updates distributed control system
ABB South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Leveraging 30 years of continuous innovation and reliability, ABB’s updated Freelance 2024 distributed control system (DCS) offers greater plant adaptability, faster and more reliable device communication, improved system security, and seamless data exchange.

Read more...
Four ways modern operations control can boost sustainability and efficiency
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
With the growing importance of digital transformation, HMIs and scada have evolved from control panels to vast operational hubs. Next-gen HMI/scada can bring together data, personalisation, and advanced insights to successfully achieve organisational goals, it is important to think about HMI/scada holistically within the operations ecosystem.

Read more...
The convergence of intelligence: DCS, SCADA and TLC
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
In the early days of industrialisation, control systems were primarily mechanical, and relied on manual intervention and simple feedback loops to manage processes. Now, in the 21st century, industrial process automation systems are mind-blowingly intelligent, and provide almost unparalleled control and monitoring capabilities, making them integral to modern industrial systems.

Read more...
PC-based control for advanced hydrogen storage technology
Beckhoff Automation Editor's Choice PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
The proportion of renewable energies from solar, wind and water is rising continuously. However, sufficient storage options are of the essence to use these energies as efficiently as possible. GKN Hydrogen offers a particularly compact and safe option, low-pressure metal hydride hydrogen storage systems with PC-based control from Beckhoff.

Read more...
ABB modernises key board mill
ABB South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
ABB has secured a landmark contract to modernise Smurfit Kappa’s Paper Machine 5 at its corrugated cardboard mill near Mexico City. ABB will provide Smurfit Kappa with DCS, accompanied by a comprehensive paper machine drives system, encompassing some of the market’s most advanced drives and motors meticulously designed to optimise PM5’s performance.

Read more...
The synapses of the distributed control system
Schneider Electric South Africa PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Industrial operations require a distributed control system (DCS) to coordinate and control their process subsystems in real time. Like the brain, a DCS is a multitasking maestro, controlling and coordinating complex processes in a myriad of industrial setting such as large manufacturing plants, providing valuable top-down control.

Read more...
Modular assembly platform for clean manufacturing
Beckhoff Automation PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
JR Automation delivers custom automated solutions for numerous industries. It has done this through its scalable, modular automation platform, FlexChassis, which speeds up time to market while cutting costs. The company chose the XTS linear transport system from Beckhoff because of its speed, and modular design that allows for multiple configurations.

Read more...
Selecting the best remote access solution for your application
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
In today’s Internet of Things (IoT) world, remote mobile access is a necessity for many industrial applications. There are several ways of implementing this connectivity with routers and virtual private networks.

Read more...
PLCs and PACs simplify data acquisition
PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
Data acquisition, data logging and data analysis are required functions for most modern industrial control systems. The simplest and lowest cost way to provide these functions is often by using the same platform providing real-time control, namely the PLC or the PAC.

Read more...
Small-scale custom development in the information age
H3iSquared PLCs, DCSs & Controllers
In the twenty-first century, the ability to put together custom electronic devices has become much more accessible to smaller companies, and even the private user. With the open nature of these platforms, potential developers can start learning systems easily, and do not need a massive capital output to do so.

Read more...