HIMax®, the new safety system from HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH + Co KG for medium-sized and large applications, is safeguarding the chlorine production process at Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG’s Gendorf facility. The leading German PVC manufacturer was won over by HIMA’s total redundancy concept, which guarantees the continuous operation of the chlorine plant.
“The performance of the PES was one of the things that swung the decision in favour of HIMax. It has the performance needed for the machine applications, especially the pump limit regulation,” explains Peter Grandl, EMR technician in the chlorine production area at Vinnolit GmbH & Co. KG Burgkirchen.
HIMax controllers are used throughout Vinnolit’s chlorine production process at the Gendorf industrial estate, as ESD (Emergency Shutdown) systems and for monitoring machinery. The safety systems protect staff and residents against the plant’s potential hazards. Originally planned only as a safety system for the new chlorine compressor, it developed into a complex system of six HIMax PESs connected together over a distance of around 1.5 km using safeethernet. Thanks to the safeethernet ring, future extensions to the plant will be quick and easy to implement.
The pure brine production facility, membrane electrolysis and central control room each have one HIMax system, while the chlorine compressor and auxiliary systems have three HIMax systems to ensure maximum availability. The HIMax system processes more than 700 safety-related inputs and outputs.
Peter Grandl was also impressed by the ease with which the HIMA controller can be integrated the use of open-standard protocols enables integration into every major control system. “HIMax was integrated very easily into our ABB Freelance process control system using the PROFIBUS-DP communication standard,” he says.
HIMA’s standard of service also earned praise from the customer. Support from HIMA’s specialists at the Burghausen Service Centre and the project team was competent and committed, says Grandl.
An important factor in the success of HIMax at the Gendorf facility was SILworX®, the configuration, programming and diagnostic environment for HIMax. SILworX is a unique, fully integrated software tool for all tasks throughout the entire system life cycle. The intuitive user interface reduces application errors and speeds up the engineering process.
HIMax is the first safety system to enable uninterrupted operation throughout the entire life cycle of a processing plant. It is based on revolutionary “Nonstop XMR” technology from HIMA. This combines SIL 3 safety technology with a scalable, fault-tolerant architecture, which eliminates false tripping and enables unlimited changes, modifications, extensions, improvements and even proof tests during system operation.
About Vinnolit
With an annual capacity of 780,000 metric tonnes (1.7 billion lbs) Vinnolit is one of the leading PVC producers in Europe and, worldwide, is the market and technical leader in specialty PVC.
National and international activities of the company are managed from Ismaning, near Munich. Production sites are in Burghausen, Gendorf, Knapsack, Cologne, Schkopau and Hillhouse (UK). Turnover of Vinnolit in 2008 amounted to €846 million. Vinnolit employs 1,500 staff. Managing Directors are Dr Josef Ertl and Dr Ralph Ottlinger.
Vinnolit produces and markets a wide range of PVC products covering all kinds of PVC applications, e.g. in the building & construction sector, in the automobile industry or in the medical sector. Whether the PVC is for window profiles, pipes, rigid film, flooring, wall covering, technical coatings, automotive sealants, cable sheathing or medical applications, Vinnolit is able to offer a suitable product.
Additionally Vinnolit produces and markets intermediates such as caustic soda, vinyl chloride and tin tetrachloride, which are required in the chemical industry as well as in other branches. The technology center VinTec is licensing Vinnolit''s leading EDC-/VCM- and S-PVC technology worldwide.
For more information visit www.vinnolit.com.
About HIMA
HIMA Paul Hildebrandt GmbH + Co KG develops safety-related automation solutions for process, machine and building safety.
HIMA is the world’s leading independent designer of automated safety solutions used in the process industry. Over the past 40 years, more than 20,000 HIMA systems have been installed worldwide to protect the assets of the world’s major oil, gas and processing companies. That same technology is being applied to develop new, creative solutions for machine and building safety. You’ll find HIMA solutions in more than 80 countries.
We are dedicated to developing safety solutions that deliver maximum safety and maximum availability – nonstop. We help companies of all sizes specify the right solution, install it properly and operate it successfully.
Founded in Germany in 1908, HIMA has a record of safety system innovation that began in 1970, when we introduced the world’s first TÜV-certified safety system. Approximately 25 percent of our 600 employees are dedicated to research and development. With offices and agents in more than 50 countries, we are equipped to support projects from initial consulting through ongoing maintenance and upgrades.
Unlike many other safety system providers, we have remained independent. That independence and German family ownership contribute to our exclusive and unmatched focus on safety, expert knowledge and customer responsiveness.
Further information about HIMA can be found online at www.hima.com. |
