Design and supply of electrical and automation systems for new acid storage tank farm
Contec was tasked with designing and supplying the electrical and automation systems for a new tank farm dedicated to acid storage. The acid product is unloaded from barges and loaded onto transport HGVs and ships. There was a strong emphasis on safety.
The challenge
Ensuring safety and reliability in acid storage
Our client required a comprehensive solution for the electrical and automation systems of a new tank farm for acid storage. The project demanded meticulous attention to safety, given the hazardous nature of the acid and the need for reliable operations during unloading and loading processes.
Our approach
Integrated engineering and design solutions
Contec’s approach to this project included several key steps:
- Instrumentation specification: We specified the main instrumentation required for the tank farm, ensuring accurate and reliable measurements.
- Engineering and Design: Our team engineered and designed the distribution, Motor Control Center (MCC), Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and the tracing and lighting of the cabinet using EPLAN P8.
- Power study: We performed a power study using SKM Powertools to ensure a fault-tolerant design of the electrical protections and the distribution of motor cables.
- Network architecture: The architecture of the ring network was designed to guarantee the availability of the automation systems.
- Redundant PLC system: We designed a redundant PLC system to combine safety and control signals, ensuring continuous and safe operation.
- SIL level validation: The Safety Integrity Level (SIL) was validated with calculations in exSILentia, ensuring compliance with safety standards.
We engaged an experienced Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) contractor with expertise in industrial environments. Together, we successfully started up the installation.
