NovaTech Conductor: Advanced Process Control and other Energy and Asset Management Solutions
NovaTech has partnered with AspenTech and BluESP to bring the proven economic and environmental benefits of their Advanced Process Control (APC) technology to NovaTech customers as part of a suite of Energy and Asset Management Solutions (EAMS) collectively known as Conductor™. These solutions can be implemented individually or in a phased approach, with the savings from initial projects offsetting the cost of additional improvements. The software solutions can be implemented in any control environment and with any Historian.
Solutions include:
• Real-time Optimization
• Production Accounting
• Product Quality Control
• Environmental/Regulatory Reporting
• Maintenance Management
• Advanced Process Control
• Plant Asset Management
• Plant Historian
• KPI’s and Performance Monitoring
• Predictive Analytics
The EAMS process begins with a site assessment during which opportunities for improvement are identified. Interviews, process reviews, data collection, business process analysis and economic analysis result in a report that includes a complete business case, ROI calculations and an implementation plan.
APC Success Stories
APC has a long history in improving process efficiency in its native petroleum industry applications. A recent independent survey of the petroleum industry found NovaTech partner AspenTech’s APC software (known as DMCPlus) was considered “mission critical” by 85% of the respondents.
APC had some early challenges migrating into other process industries, but a track record of successes has proven its strategic value, and APC today represents a compelling technology for plant managers looking to reduce energy costs, increase asset life, and reduce emissions, water consumption and carbon footprint. The following examples demonstrate the benefits achieved by implementing an APC solution.
Anglo Platinum
The world’ largest platinum refiner uses APC to improve temperature control and maximized vacuum, leading to a decrease in the steam evaporated per ton of product. Dramatically improved temperature stability on three batch reactors enabled production to run closer to the actual temperature constraints, minimizing batch times and improving recoveries. Boilers were also stabilized, minimizing dumping of red coals and reducing excess Oxygen in the flue gas. The combined effect of these controllers led to a 4.5% reduction in coal use.
DOW
By implementing APC, Dow’s production capacity increased by 11%, unti-variability by 45%, off-spec fell to zero, start-up time dropped by 60%, emissions plummeted over 80%, and the feed rate increased by 8%.
Expanded Support for EAMS
Heading up the NovaTech team to introduce these solutions to market is Lize van Wyk. Lize joined NovaTech recently from BluESP, and has over 15 years of experience in the chemical, operations and software related fields. She has worked with numerous industrial clients, including oil and gas, mining, chemical, logistics and manufacturing companies on a wide range of projects involving waste reduction, operational efficiency improvement through APC, and implementation of Manufacturing Execution Systems.
For more information on how APC and other Conductor EAMS services can make a real difference to your bottom line, email Lize atlize.vanwyk@novatechps.com.