Multimillion dollar automation contract for giant pulp mill
September 2004
News
Veracel Celulose, a joint venture between Aracruz Celulose of Brazil and Scandanavian-based Stora Enso Oyj, has awarded Invensys Systems Brazil a multimillion dollar automation contract to supply Foxboro I/A Series automation systems plus advanced process control applications and associated services for Veracel's grassroots 900 000 metric ton per year bleached eucalyptus pulp mill now under construction in Eun polis in the State of Bahia, Brazil. The plant, which will be the largest single-line mill of its kind in the world, will incorporate state-of-the-art process equipment, fully automated process control systems, and advanced environmental protection installations.
"This is clearly one of the most significant grassroots pulp mill projects to emerge in many years," said Rick Haythornthwaite, Invensys' CEO. "Invensys is honoured to have been selected to participate in the project as automation vendor. In this capacity, we are fully committed to helping Veracel meet their ambitious schedule for start-up and, once the mill is commissioned, to help maximise production efficiencies."
As automation supplier for the Veracel pulp mill project, Invensys will provide the latest Foxboro control technology. This includes a large I/A Series system with all stations linked via a high-performance Switched Ethernet backplane in a high-availability 'mesh' network configuration.
Veracel's I/A Series system will also utilise Foxboro's latest Windows XP workstations, new high-performance controllers, and HART field communications with remote I/O. More than 7500 I/O points and 20 000 communication points will be integrated into the system.
Invensys' advanced process control (APC) solutions for pulp mill applications will be used to maximise performance, minimise emissions and reduce costs. Several of these applications will incorporate powerful Connoisseur multivariable predictive control (MPC) technology from Invensys' SimSci-Esscor unit. Connoisseur is a comprehensive suite of APC software that allows on-line data collection and analysis and offers realtime adaptive control to help users obtain peak performance from their operating units.
Invensys was selected for this important project based on its robust and well-proven control technology, advanced pulp mill applications, and strong local presence in Brazil. The mill is scheduled to commence production by mid-2005. All of Veracel's pulp production will be based exclusively on its own sustainable managed eucalyptus plantations. Wood from native forests will not be used, but will be preserved to ensure a balanced ecosystem in the planting regions.
For more information contact Keith Guest, Protea Automation Solutions, 011 719 5700, keithg@protea.co.za, www.protea.co.za
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