Author: O. Pearcey
APGalva09 The Asia-Pacific Galvanizing Conference 2009, Korea, November 8 - 12, 2009
Abstract
Reliable, simple and effective control systems are beneficial to plant operations and reduce business operating costs. Many excellent control systems fail to deliver the expected long-term performance or business benefits. In many cases, the process control runs successfully for some time, then performance degrades to the point where there is an improvement in production when the control is turned off. Adding simplicity is difficult, but it's the first step to extending the service life of a control system. The steps involved in adding simplicity are complex but can be applied to many areas.
The word "integration" is used daily in the steel industry and leads to a variety of results. For an equipment supplier, integration can take both physical and functional forms and both have to be considered.
Operational advantages throughout the life of the control, improving the return on investment through increased longevity and reducing the skill set required to maintain the system. Simplified embedded control integrated with the mechanical system can produce world class results throughout the equipment life.
This case study presents the reasoning behind the development and performance of the Hatch pot equipment and control system.
