Erste fernbediente, vollautomatisierte Verdichterstation für Ethylen in Deutschland
Joachim Börner, Rainer Braun, Walter Nieding · Chemie Ingenieur Technik · 1980
Abstract First remote‐controlled, fully automated ethylene compressor plant in Germany. The Hoechst company has been operating an ethylene pipeline between Cologne and Frankfurt‐am‐Main since 1960. The capacity of this pipeline had to be increased from 250 000 t/a to 350 000 t/a, and this is why a remote‐controlled fully automated ethylene intermediate compressor came into operation in 1978. The unmanned station was constructed as a grass roots project with ancillary and safety displays and is controlled and monitored from an 80‐km distant control desk. Compression is by two piston compressors arranged in parallel, with each one accounting for 50% of the throughput capacity. Particular attention was paid to the safety concept of the station. All interlocking systems necessary and possible manual operations are permanently wired. The start‐up and shut‐down programs are located in a freely programmable control system. Such stations can be constructed from prefabricated units in inaccessible areas.