A custom engineered pilot plant was fabricated to convert material derived from a plant-based energy source (plant-based), to a replacement for a fossil fuel derivative. EPIC implemented intrinsically safe instrumentation and PLC control.
CLIENT: Fortune 500 Company
INDUSTRY: Oil and Gas, Alternative Energy
KEY FEATURES:
- Future technologies proof-of-concept pilot plant
- Class I, Group D, Division 1 and Division II hazardous areas present on the skid for highly flammable chemicals
- FlexEx Intrinsically Safe I/O with intrinsically safe instruments and valves, to reduce installation costs
- Rockwell ControLogix PLC control, utilizing intrinsically safe ControlNet communications to the I/O
- Main control panel and drives for skid located separately in a general purpose classified area
- Wonderware InTouch HMI with custom screens designed specifically for the process
- Complete power distribution equipment was engineered and provided for the project
CORE CHALLENGES:
- Proprietary technology scale-up
- Skid design – all process equipment contained within two skids, to allow transport to the destination site and comply with highway restrictions
- Layout – Ensuring all equipment and critical processes are accessible within skid
- Hazardous chemical handling and area classification zones located within each skid
- A temperature controlled raw material storage cabinet was supplied due to one of the raw materials being highly temperature sensitive
- Multiple heat trace circuits on each skid due to multiple product stream temperature requirements
EPIC Industrial Automation
EPIC Industrial Automation