AUSTIN, TEXAS (October 16, 2003) - A DeltaV™ digital automation system from Emerson Process Management is used to control the first full-scale production facility for continuous multipurpose chemical synthesis via supercritical fluids, recently opened at Thomas Swan and Company Ltd in Consett, England. The Swan-SCF® plant has proved to be particularly effective for hydrogenation, with advantages in reaction rates and selectivity, plus it avoids the use of conventional volatile solvents with their environment and waste problems. The Swan-SCF plant uses carbon dioxide as the supercritical fluid. This is a gas compressed to a point where it displays solvent-like properties, which can be tuned through adjustments to temperature and pressure. Emerson supplied Rosemount® temperature and Rosemount 3051 pressure transmitters to monitor these critical process parameters, which are recorded throughout the production cycle by the DeltaV Historian.Ian Richardson, project engineer on the Swan-SCF plant project, confirmed, “The DeltaV Historian has been invaluable for tracking all events throughout the run, particularly any process upsets. Analysis of the final product shows how well the process conditions were tuned to the requirement, and allows us to identify any differences run to run; in this way, we can tune our Swan-SCF process to achieve 100% selectivity and 100% conversion in a single pass.”The plant is highly instrumented, as might be expected for a process development and proving plant. Emerson Micro Motion Coriolis meters are used to monitor carbon dioxide density as it passes through the pressurization stages; the SCF reaction vessel is typically maintained at up to 500 bar. The Emerson DeltaV system provides the operator with two digital displays. Typically one screen shows the overall process, and the second shows a detailed view of interest, or utility services such as the hydrogen and carbon dioxide delivery and compression systems.“Our operators picked up plant control using DeltaV quickly and easily,” continued Ian Richardson. “They use on-screen alarms to react to any process problems. As we develop the processes we add modules and control loops, with new graphics; this we can do ourselves, easily. All the DeltaV hardware has been stable and reliable. It does what it claims to do, and is easy to understand.”About the Swan-SCF processThomas Swan (www.thomas-swan.co.uk) developed the Swan-SCF® process used in this plant, and has demonstrated 100% selectivity and 100% conversion in a number of reactions in a single pass. The promise of high yields with reduced environmental impact, and the potential to explore process routes not available in conventional synthesis, has created international attention. This is the first full scale facility for continuous multi-purpose synthesis using supercritical fluid, and can synthesize up to 1000 tons per year. Initially the plant is synthesizing trimethylcyclohexanone (TMCH) - an acetone derivative used in styrene products - as a basic trial product to calibrate the equipment. The plant exploits proven new technology to replace conventional solvents by inert supercritical fluids for key chemical technologies - including hydrogenation, Friedel-Crafts alkylations and acylations, hydroformylations, and etherification. About Emerson Process ManagementEmerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, food and beverage, pharmaceutical and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include: PlantWeb®; DeltaV™; Rosemount®; Micro Motion®; Fisher®; DeltaV™: Ovation®; and AMS™ Suite.About EmersonEmerson (www.gotoemerson.com) is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to customers in process control; electronics and telecommunications; industrial automation; heating, ventilating and air conditioning; and appliances and tools. Sales in fiscal 2002 were $13.8 billion.DeltaV™, Rosemount®, Micro Motion® and AMSTM are marks of Emerson Process Management. Swan-SCF is a mark of Thomas Swan & Co Ltd. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.Contacts:Jerry Moon, Emerson Process Management1 (512) 832-3089, [email protected]Peter Dossing, Emerson Process Management1 (512) 832-3162, [email protected]
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