Hydroformylation pilot plant uses latest fieldbus technology

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February 2002 Fieldbus & Industrial Networking

Honeywell's latest Phase 2 Foundation Fieldbus technology will be used for the first time in South Africa at Sasol Technology R&D's Hydroformylation Pilot Plant in Secunda. This follows a successful bid by Honeywell to supply a control system solution for the pilot plant.

"Honeywell's PlantScape Release 400, incorporating the newly released Foundation Fieldbus technology, was Sasol's system of choice based on performance and competitive pricing," says Honeywell's Dependra Ambelal.

MD of Sasol Technology R&D, Dr Chris Reinecke, adds: "Our decision to invite Honeywell to provide the control system solution was largely based on the high level of existing relationship and support we have enjoyed from this organisation."

Ambelal says PlantScape Release 400 has demonstrated seamless integration and interoperability with Foundation Fieldbus devices, delivering exceptional performance and competitive advantages that reduce installation costs, decrease commissioning time and lower maintenance costs. PlantScape is a scalable control system, for small systems less than 100 points, to larger systems up to 65 000 points.

"PlantScape will help Sasol realise substantial savings throughout the life-cycle of its process because the system can be expanded and upgraded with ease and flexibility. More than 300 standard displays, powerful engineering tools, and a fully integrated database are included with PlantScape, saving on engineering time and expense," he says.

Honeywell's system was due for commissioning by the end of November 2001 and the Hydro Formulation pilot plant should be complete early in 2002.

Flow transmitters on a Foundation Fieldbus network at Sasol have been connected to the PlantScape system, making it possible to read in extended data beyond just the primary variable-flow. The Foundation Fieldbus harnesses digital communication-based technology, making it, in Ambelal's words, "a much more intelligent device".

The new technology opens the door to extended diagnostic information about the implementation, because the whole medium of interaction between the field instrument and the control system is in digital format. Traditionally, information availability has been much more limited.

Ambelal says the results of the pilot project are critical, as they will be used to determine whether Sasol goes ahead with its in-house hydro formulation technology or follows the outsourcing route using a commercially available plant.

Fischer Tropsch process

Sasol's Synfuel Fischer Tropsch process produces Alpha Olefins of which the C13 up to C15 which can be recovered from a hydrocarbon stream at the Sasol Refinery. These will in future be converted to long chain alcohols via the hydroformylation process and the alcohols used as raw materials in the production of surfactants (soaps) by detergent manufacturing companies.

Sasol Chemie in Europe and the US, one of the largest producers of surfactants in the world, manufactures a limited range of soaps itself and sells the balance of the product to manufacturing organisations.

Honeywell Southern Africa

(011) 805 1201

[email protected]

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