Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com) has won a $4 million contract to automate the modernization and expansion of the zinc extraction process for Boliden Odda AS, a zinc producer and refiner in Norway. Engineering is under way, and start-up is complete in the first phase of the project.As main automation contractor, Emerson is planning, designing, and engineering the automation aspects of the project, including installation of its PlantWeb digital plant architecture to optimize the new extraction process in Odda, Norway. Boliden Odda seeks to benefit from advanced control and improved process uptime and maintenance efficiency, while maintaining its environmental performance.The new direct leaching process of zinc concentrates was designed to improve the cost efficiency and versatility of production. It will enable the use of a wider quality range of zinc concentrates, increasing the volume to the plant by about 10 percent. The modernization will lay the foundation for cost efficient technology in any future expansion.The Boliden Odda installation of architecture will use a digital automation system with embedded advanced control that includes auto-tuning, fuzzy logic, neural networks and model-based predictive control. Process and equipment health will be continuously monitored as intelligent field devices perform diagnostics and communicate status via fieldbus networks. An intelligent device manager within the system will provide easy access for operations and maintenance personnel to maximize operational performance.Approximately 55 fieldbus segments provide communications for more than 400 instruments. Also, 25 Profibus DP segments provide control interface to 400 motors.The system will include nine operator and maintenance workstations with 18 controllers, and connect with a real-time performance management system. A second phase of the project will add further controllers, doubling the system capacity to 10,000 DST tags.
As main automation contractor, Emerson is planning, designing, and engineering the automation aspects of the new extraction process for Boliden Odda in Norway.
