Wireless improves operational efficiency at Italian biomass plant 08 March 2013

Enomondo – a partnership between Caviro Distillerie and Herambiente – in Faenza, Italy, is reporting improved visibility into its biomass power plant, leading to a 5% increase in operational efficiency, thanks to smart wireless transmitters.

The organisation also says that the units, from Emerson Process Management, are supporting predictive maintenance and providing for tank overspill protection.

The devices are being used to monitor a complex fuel pre-treatment operation, an incineration process and a new boiler at the plant, with wireless technology enabling additional measurement devices to be installed quickly and easily.

The 13.7 MW power generation plant is located at the Caviro Distillerie wine and denatured alcohol plant. It uses 140,000 tonnes per year of by-products from alcohol production to produce power, saving 35,500 tonnes a year CO2.

Alessandro Catani, Enomondo plant and energy manager, explains that, to increase efficiency and capacity, a new boiler was installed, creating a requirement for new instrumentation to monitor temperature and pressure.

In addition, the existing fuel pre-treatment process, which ensures nitrogen oxide emissions are less than half the levels set by Italy's Integrated Environmental Authorisation, involves multi-variable control, so would benefit from additional measurement points.

Hence the choice of Emerson's smart wireless technology, which means simpler installation and lower overall costs than wired alternatives.

In fact, 22 transmitters, including Rosemount 3051S pressure and 648 temperature transmitters, now transmit measurement data via a wireless gateway into the existing Emerson DeltaV digital automation system.

"The modularity of Emerson's smart wireless technology, the ease and reduced cost of implementation compared to wired devices, and its reliability once installed have encouraged us to expand its use into other applications," states Catani.

"For example, temperatures in some of the air-conditioning systems at the plant were prone to overheating. By installing Rosemount wireless temperature transmitters on a temporary basis, it was possible to obtain the data we needed to identify potential problems and correct them."

A further 26 Rosemount inventory tank gauges with smart wireless THUM Adapters have since been installed at the Caviro Distillerie production facility to monitor levels and increase safety by preventing overspills in the alcohol storage tank farm.

Brian Tinham

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