An update on a major automation platform upgrade at a large-scale chemical plant.
In November, 2006 I first talked to Tom Williams from Honeywell Specialty Materials in Geismar, LA. Tom is overseeing a major long-term upgrade of that fluorine products plant as it continues to produce hydrofluoric acid, polymers and refrigerants. His team has made a lot of progress in the last 18 months. ( .)
Bob Vavra, editorial director of our sister publication Plant Engineering , and I discussed a number of topics with Tom, including:
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Implementation of APC strategy;
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Changing roles of operators in a more thoroughly automated environment;
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Using simulation platforms for operator training;
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New safety and security capabilities;
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Alarm management;
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Maintenance strategy;
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Early event detection;
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Actual and potential wireless implementations; and
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What lies ahead.
Check out this podcast for some new ideas from a real end-user perspective.
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See our complete catalog of podcasts .
—Peter Welander, process industries editor, [email protected] ,
Process & Advanced Control Monthly
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