ATAFINA , Belgium
System reliability using Interbus
The giant in petrochemistry, ATAFINA in Feluy, Belgium, operates one of the most powerful plastic reactors in Europe: 400000 tons of granulate are produced each year and stored in a silo logistics center via pipe systems.
90 high-grade steel silos, each with a capacity of 500 m3, are continuously filled with plastic granulate, i.e., production is an uninterruptible process. A special concrete construction accommodates these huge masses and provides sufficient space for silo vehicles at ground level.
Application
For the loading process, a filling unit is placed under one of the logistic systems and the hatch is opened. The driver then drives his/her truck under the specified loading station and can start loading using a hand-held operator panel.
A highly specialized method enables a silo truck with a capacity of 24 tons to be filled in less than 15 minutes, whereby the ingenious static measuring units achieve a filling accuracy of ±100 kg. The system stops loading automatically when the specified quantity is reached.
A system failure would have an adverse effect on the plastic reactor within a very short period and thus damage the entire production system.
Furthermore, system installation was subject to great time pressure, which meant that quick and easy electrical installation was essential. The choice here was INTERBUS.
5 adjacent silos are operated by one control unit. This unit operates the enable and start functions and also opens and closes the silo in manual mode. The filling process is normally controlled automatically via INTERBUS. However, the user's control signals and the silo valves are also detected and transmitted via INTERBUS in manual mode. In total, 1600 I/O points are networked with one another in these units. Control is via a Siemens S5 with an INTERBUS IBS S5 DSC controller board.
System planner Marco Heyd from SAH GmbH comments on INTERBUS: "Installation was very easy with INTERBUS. Our control cabinet builder supplied cleanly wired operating units in an incredibly short time. The entire bus system was started up within a few hours - it couldn't have been any easier." The exemplary diagnostic capability of INTERBUS ensures quick error localization. Plug-in INTERBUS modules can therefore be replaced within a short time period, ensuring minimum downtimes.
Summary
INTERBUS offers important advantages as a system for networking I/O functions in an automated logistics center:
- Easy and inexpensive installation due to elimination of parallel wiring
- Quick start-up using "Plug & Work" function
- Minimum downtimes and easy maintenance
Phoenix Contact also offers other services, such as training and configuration support, quick dispatch of replacement parts, and a 24-hour hotline, making this global company an expert partner for automated logistics.