Modernización del sistema de control del caldero Vyncke utilizado para calentamiento de aceite térmico en la fábrica Aglomerados Cotopaxi S.A.

Abstract

Aglomerados Cotopaxi S.A. is dedicated to the manufacture of agglomerated boards, it has two production lines: Aglomerates and MDF. Among these processes of elaboration are the drier and the pressing phase, in which the use of hot industrial oil is necessary. The oil heating process is carried out in the Vyncke boiler, which uses wood waste, called biomass, as fuel. A punctual problem with the old PLC caused a halt in the production of the whole plant, this situation persuaded to the supervisors to carry out the modernization. The old control system consisted of a PLC Siemens S5, electromechanical control logic, electronic temperature and pressure controllers, a mimic panel for monitoring system signals and safety indicators. As a result of this background, the PLC S5 was migrated to a PLC S7, designed for medium-range, expandable and powerful applications thanks to its functions and memory capacity. The electromechanical control logic and the electronic controllers were integrated, was improved and incorporated some of the control systems and a new feeding system was designed. In addition to monitoring and supervision of process signals and alarms, a SCADA system was designed.