Dispensing control unit with tank system and energy management
Staedler Automation AG designed, developed, and commissioned the control unit for a dispensing system with a tank farm for a beverage manufacturer.
The plant dispenses the concentrate from various solid and liquid additives and mixes them. The concentrate can be diluted with water until it is subsequently pumped on to the filling plant in the mixing tanks, which can hold up to 26,500 litres each. The storage tanks can also be filled directly from a tank truck.
Furthermore, the control unit coordinates the energy requirements of the filling plant. It controls generation and distribution of heat and cold, thereby ensuring targeted use of energy resources.
The control unit is a Siemens PLC. This is connected to the inverters and IO modules via Profinet, thereby controlling the various pumps and valves.
A new visualisation system was used for the first time in this plant. This visualisation, based on web technology, communicates with the control unit via OPC-UA. The entire visualisation concept was rebuilt with the support of a designer. This means that Staedler Automation is also at the cutting edge of technology when it comes to visualization.
Technology
- Control unit: Siemens S7-1512
- Operating unit: Siemens Simatic 22’’ Panel with Nanobox PC and Atvise visualisation
- Drive system: Rockwell Powerflex 4M
Work performed
- Design of control unit and drives
- Creating the scheme and bill of materials
- Software engineering of PLC, HMI, and frequency inverter
- Commissioning
