Engineering Lab

The engineering laboratory is located in BAR/E32 and houses the batch plant, the teaching and research laboratory facility for the process control engineering practical course, as well as the engineering stations and control stations required for this.

Brief description

The core of the plant consists of two reactors in which different products can be produced simultaneously. The plant can therefore be classified as a multi-product plant and a multi-line multi-path plant.

Description

The core of the plant is formed by two reactors, which are fed with different reactants. Different products can be produced simultaneously in the reactors. The plant can therefore be classified as a multi-product plant and a multi-line multi-path plant. It consists of several subplants that are firmly connected to each other. The paths between the subplants can be dynamically interconnected depending on the production process. This requires complex automation. The complex automation system can be put together very effectively and efficiently by combining existing modules of the PCS 7 process control system.

Plant Section 1

The first plant subsection provides the reactants for the reactors. It consists of three reactant vessels. These are identically instrumented: To detect whether the tank is empty or full, the level is monitored by two sensors. The reactant can be metered into the second section via a valve at the outlet and a pump. The reactant is refilled via a valve at the inflow.

Plant Section 2

The second plant section comprises two reactors, which have the same dimensions as the reactant tanks but are equipped with different automation means. Each reactor is equipped with a stirrer and a heater. The level is continuously measured by an ultrasonic sensor and the temperature by a PT100 element. The reactants can be filled into the reactor via the three valves at the inlet. Via a pump at the outlet, the reaction product can either be transferred to the respective other reactor or filled into the product tank of the third section or the rinsing water can be returned to the rinsing tank. Another valve at the influent allows rinsing water to be fed from the fourth subplant for cleaning to the reactor.

Plant Section 3

The third plant section contains the finished products and consists of two tanks with two sensors that indicate the minimum and maximum levels. While the reactors can be fed by all reactant vessels, the product vessels are assigned to exactly one reactor. A valve at the inflow of the product container opens the path from the reactor to the product container. A valve at the outlet of each product container is used to remove the finished product from the plant.

Plant Section 4

The fourth plant section consists of the rinsing water tank, which is also equipped with two sensors for the minimum and maximum filling level. Via a valve and a pump at the outflow, the rinsing water can be transported into the reactors of the second subplant and back from the reactors to the rinsing water tank via the valves at the inflow .