Project Overview - Tank Farm
Client - Leading global tank farm operator
Date - 2020
Type of system - Process control
Control system - Beckhoff IPC, Ignition SCADA
Industry - Bulk Storage
The challenge
Flammable and hazardous chemicals pose special challenges for tank farm operators. With stringent requirements on storing potentially explosive and environmentally harmful chemicals, the site-wide control system needed to be carefully designed to meet standards, special features of explosion protection as well as functional safety. All while providing a control system that improves operational efficiency and is intuitive to operate.
The solution
Working with a diverse group of stakeholders from concept through to final commissioning and handover, Automate-X designed and built a distributed system to monitor instrumentation and control pumping across 17 storage vessels. With a compliant safety system including ESD and Fire suppression the customer can have confidence in the control system of the Major Hazard Facility. Operations can interface with their plant through a site wide SCADA system including mobile tablets to take into the field.
The tech
The system features two Beckhoff IPCs; one for process control and another running TwinSAFE as a dedicated safety PLC. SIL3 rated field instrumentation is terminated back to 6 field panels through intrinsically safe Ex rated and NAMUR terminals. The tank farm field cabinets are connected via two separate fibre EtherCAT redundant network loops.
The SCADA system was built using Ignition Vision for the control room, and Ignition Perspective to be used on intrinsically safe tablets for operators to carry with them around the site.
