Carbon black producer updates burner safety system

Evonik Degussa deploys HIMax Safety System, increases control flexibility. See photo.

By Control Engineering Staff May 4, 2009

Evonik Degussa has selected Hima’s latest safety system, HiMAx , for its carbon black production plant in Kalscheuren, Germany, the largest such facility in Europe. Carbon black is used for manufacturing tires, and also in paint, printer colors, ink, and synthetic materials.

Hima says HiMax delivers availability for life by enabling uninterrupted system operation throughout a plant’s lifecycle. This maximizes plant availability and improves productivity. Source: Hima

Automated boiler contro lResidual gas from the production process is used for steam and power generation in thermal afterburning plants. If a boiler stops functioning, a gas flare system starts burning the residual gas. Evonik decided to switch to automated boiler control and a monitoring system for gas flare using HiMax.

The new system includes two HiMax CPUs, two system bus modules, two digital output modules, three input modules, one analog output module, and one communication module for Profibus DP.

Online tests important Lutz Dross, Evonik Degussa process engineer, says that it’s very important for the company to conduct online tests using HiMax, as well as to investigate other diverse programming possibilities. “The high level of flexibility guarantees low costs during the entire lifecycle of HIMax,” he says. “Another advantage is that the safety system can be easily expanded without having to interrupt operations. Whether during a hardware or software upgrade, or routine maintenance work, HIMax doesn’t have to be turned off. The plant continues to operate.”

Hima says HiMax is suited for large and medium-sized applications, and is the first safety system that allows uninterrupted operation of a process over its entire lifecycle. It is based on Hima’s Nonstop XMR technology, which combines diagnostic-based SIL 3 safety integrity with a scalable fault-tolerant architecture. This eliminates false trips and provides for unlimited changes, modifications, expansions, upgrades, and regulatory proof testing without taking the plant off-line.

DCS integration The HiMax system is integrated into Evonik’s Foxboro distributed control system (DCS) via Profibus DP. Hima says that with its open standards protocol, HiMax can be integrated with all leading DCS systems.

—Edited by Peter Welander, process industries editor, PWelander@cfemedia.com Process & Advanced Control Monthly eNewsletter Register here to select your choice of free eNewsletters .