Using an MBSE approach for automation control system selection in long steel products hot rolling plants

Abstract: Automation systems in long steel products hot rolling plants are prone to performance failures with the potential of serious negative impact on the business. The selection process of these automation systems therefore requires careful consideration of various selection factors to maximize plant performance. The need was therefore identified to investigate the use of a suitable management approach to guide engineering automation teams in the long steel products hot rolling plants in the selection of automation systems. At the core is the need for an in-depth understanding of the issues surrounding distributed and hierarchical automation systems in long steel products plants. This includes identifying the challenges during the selection process, using sound engineering management principles. Current automation selection techniques were investigated through a survey, interviews and a case study. It was then decided to use a Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach, which utilises systems engineering principles together with digital technology to create models to simplify the understanding of complex problems and relationships. This was then used to develop a management framework for automation systems selection in support of the business case of long steel products hot rolling plants

Diagnóstico de la eficiencia energética en el proceso de molienda de productos deshidratados, con molino de martillos, en la industria aromas de Tungurahua en la ciudad de Ambato. Diseño de un sistema automatizado de control de velocidad de alimentación del producto.

The Industry of Aromas del Tungurahua, into several of its processes is the grinding of dried products using a hammer mill, the feed rate of the product is chosen according to the product and the people experience that run the milling process. While experience allows the operating point be good, is not optimal, so it is necessary to determine the optimum feed rate of the product and its impact on energetic efficiency, so that the unawareness in it take account in the productivity, it has a consumption in excess of electrical energy and the effectiveness and competitiveness of the company is affected. The design of an automated speed control system to monitor the feed rate of the product by means of variable speed drives and Programmer Logic Controllers let to improve energetic efficiency and maintain the optimal operating point. To characterize the process and determine correctly the type of automation required, several grindings are performed by measuring their weight, power consumption, the time used and the quality obtained, until finding the speed that provides the greatest benefits, for this reason it is used a empiricist-inductive approach. Then for automatic design it is applied a rationalist-deductive approach.En la Industria Aromas del Tungurahua entre varios de sus procesos está el de la molienda de productos deshidratados mediante el uso de un molino de martillos, la velocidad de alimentación del producto se la escoge de acuerdo al producto y a la experiencia de las personas que manejan el proceso de molienda. Si bien la experiencia permite que el punto de trabajo sea bueno, no es el óptimo, por tanto es necesario determinar la velocidad óptima de alimentación del producto, y su incidencia en la eficiencia energética, ya que su desconocimiento provoca que la productividad no sea la adecuada, se tiene un consumo en exceso de energía eléctrica y se pone en riesgo la efectividad y competitividad de la empresa. El diseño de un sistema automatizado de control de velocidad para la alimentación del producto, mediante la utilización de variadores de velocidad y autómatas programables, permite mejorar su eficiencia energética y mantener el punto óptimo de operación. Para caracterizar el proceso y determinar correctamente el tipo de automatismo necesario, se realizan varias moliendas midiendo su peso, consumo de energía eléctrica, el tiempo que se demora y la calidad obtenida, hasta encontrar la velocidad que ofrece los mayores beneficios, para ello se utiliza el enfoque empirista-inductivo. Luego para el diseño del sistema automático se aplica un método racionalista-deductivo