Control Techniques was recently awarded a contract by Columbus Stainless. This was to supply the controls for the new bridle and transport drives at the entry section of one of the anneal and pickling lines. The scope of the project was to control 16 wringer roll motors plus two bridle motors and an exhaust fan.
Drives on Columbus Stainless pickling line
The first requirement was for a communications link between the drives and their existing GEM 80 plant PLC. Control Techniques worked in conjunction with Converteam in the UK, which provided the HPCi interface PLC between the GEM 80 and the Profibus network for the drives.
The drive system panel suite was designed, built and commissioned by Control Techniques at its local Drive Centre.
Each of the ringer roll motors is controlled by a 7,5 kW panel mounted Unidrive SP AC drive. The larger bridle motors have 110 kW modular Unidrive SPMD drives with regenerative mode for accuracy of tension control and maximum efficiency saving. Each drive is fitted with additional specialist modules for Profibus communications, as well as a powerful second processor module for distributed control.
Columbus Stainless was pleased with the flexibility of operation of the Unidrive SP AC drives. These featured parameter selectable multimode operation as well as a high level of localised programming using the plug in second processor SM Application module. Drive and processor programming was made easy using SyptPro software and the high-speed CT-Net network.
Control Techniques provided close engineering support and advice throughout the process, including detailed training of maintenance staff.
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