Vaasa Engineering Ltd of Vaasa, Finland, has received two further orders from AvestaPolarit Stainless Oy as part of the three-year investment programme in the company’s stainless steel plant in Tornio, Finland. The investment includes the construction of a new stainless steel melting shop and the expansion of hot rolling facilities as well as a new cold rolling plant. The first of Vaasa Engineering’s new contracts is for the delivery of a new system designed to safeguard personnel working in the new cold rolling mill. The second order is for the delivery of process electrification and automation systems for the No. 2 water treatment plant in Tornio. This is being handled as a turn-key project, and includes connections to AvestaPolarit’s own 20kV power distribution system. Siemens PCS7 automation systems, which are decentralised via a field channel, are used in both of the new projects. The SIL3 safety-approved process station is used in the new safety system. Together, these systems include some 2500 I/Os.
The No. 2 water-treatment process is built mainly on AC motors driven by Vacon Plc’s frequency converters. The direct-driven electric motor outputs are integrated into VEDA5000 low-voltage switchgear manufactured by Vaasa Engineering. The switchgear controls (I/Os) are connected to the automation system via an AS-I (fieldbus) system.
The instrumentation’s field units are connected to the automation system using fieldbus technology, i.e. without the traditional signal wiring. This significantly reduces the need for signal cabling, which means that project planning and commissioning are faster and that the system is simpler.
