May 2008Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The state-controlled Petroleum, Oil and Gas Corporation of South Africa, PetroSA, has been operating the first biogas-to-electricity plant of its kind in South Africa at its gas-to-liquid refinery near Mossel Bay since October 2007. The environmentally friendly and sustainable generation of energy from excess biogas that was not used in the past is controlled with Beckhoff technology.
The biogas-to-electricity plant was developed and funded by MethCap, a WSP Group company, the Central Energy Fund, NRG, a group of empowerment investors, and CO2 emission rights generated under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol.
The 4,2 MW power plant is equipped with a smokestack that houses a flaring apparatus from which excess gas escapes. In conventional systems this gas is flared. Over the lifetime of the power plant a gross heat value of at least 1300 GWh would be wasted in this way. “Not in this plant,” Charles Liebenberg, managing director of MethCap, said. “From the exhaust gases we generate electricity which PetroSA uses to reduce the amount of electricity it obtains from the grid. Over the lifetime of the power plant this reduces the carbon dioxide emissions of the public grid by more than 500 000 tons.” “The construction of this biogas power plant shows that projects for promoting renewables are not just a government dream but are actually being implemented,” said Minerals and Energy Minister Buyelwa Sonjica.
A blower in the chimney of the power plant compresses the gas to 8 kPa. The gas is then burnt in three gas engines, each driving a 1,4 MW generator. Fans protect the plant from excessive temperatures. A CX9000 Embedded PC from Beckhoff with Windows CE operating system and the TwinCAT PLC automation software control the blowers, the fans and the heat exchanger and monitor temperature, pressure and gas quality. The system components are connected to the controller via Beckhoff Bus Terminals.
“We chose Beckhoff technology due to its very good price/performance ratio and the straightforward connection system. For example, the Bus Terminals with Cage Clamp mechanism can quickly be connected to the cable ends on site,” said Liebenberg. The CX platform is integrated in the PetroSA control system and the higher-level fire and gas leak detection systems. The Ethernet programming and monitoring port of the CX9000 enables high-speed logging of system variables via the Adroit monitoring system. In addition, Liebenberg is convinced that TwinCAT is the optimal development and runtime environment: “In compliance with the IEC 61131-3 standard TwinCAT supports all main high-level languages. This makes it straightforward for us to create our functions with Structured Text. The utilisation of function blocks from the comprehensive TwinCAT libraries has reduced our programming effort and simplified commissioning.”
Building efficiency into cement production with SCADA and IIoT Adroit Technologies
Fieldbus & Industrial Networking
For decades, Adroit Technologies has worked alongside leading cement producers, helping them gain greater visibility into their operations through advanced SCADA and IIoT solutions.
Read more...Importance of gas analysis in the petrochemical industry Elemental Analytics
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Gas analysis plays a critical role in petrochemical operations, supporting process optimisation, product quality and plant safety. As an experienced and expert gas analysis supplier, Elemental Analytics can provide the correct analyser and sample system package to meet individual plant requirements.
Read more...Test bench for temperature calibrating power semiconductors Beckhoff Automation
Temperature Measurement
Precise temperature characteristics are essential for performing power cycling tests on power semiconductors. Infineon Technologies determines these characteristic curves on a test bench using PC-based control. As a result, calibration has become more precise and the efficiency of the entire test laboratory has increased significantly.
Read more...How integrated EMS platforms are redefining risk management in mining Adroit Technologies
IT in Manufacturing
As mining operations become deeper, more mechanised and increasingly data-driven, the role of technology in safeguarding workers has never been more critical. For Adroit Technologies, this shift has driven the evolution of its environmental management and safety system into a fully integrated, enterprise-level platform that supports both real-time safety and long-term occupational health.
Read more...Fully integrated standalone thunderstorm warning system Senseca
Sensors & Transducers Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Senseca South Africa has introduced its BTD-1 fully integrated, standalone thunderstorm warning system, which detects lightning by monitoring the background quasi-electrostatic field. The system can generate alerts before the first lightning strike, with a detection raterange of up to 83 km.
Read more...Environmental monitoring with testo Saveris 1
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
The testo Saveris 1 environmental monitoring system has been in continuous use since 2010 at Jungbunzlauer, a biotechnology company in Germany, providing seamless temperature and humidity data for audit-ready, GxP-compliant processes across laboratories, warehouses and production areas.
Read more...XTS for highly efficient end-of-line packaging of beverage bottles Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice
Italian machine builder Clevertech used Beckhoff’s XTS linear transport system to help a Dutch distillery double its bottle packaging throughput to 225 bottles per minute while cutting format changeover times from 30 minutes to just seven.
Read more...Reliability restored through systemic vibration analysis Wearcheck
Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Condition monitoring specialist, WearCheck uses a variety of testing techniques to enhance reliability in machinery components and prevent failures.
Read more...Motion control for flight simulators Beckhoff Automation
Editor's Choice Motion Control & Drives
Turkish specialist, SANLAB is a leader in motion platforms and simulation technologies. At the heart of these platforms are application-specific servo drives, servomotors and industrial PCs for real-time control, which are supplied by Beckhoff.
Read more...Appointment Beckhoff Automation
News
Beckhoff Automation has appointed Luzuko Bulembu as technical support engineer.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.
printer friendly version