Seems that “digital transformation” is the buzzword in industry today. Almost everyone is digitally transforming something – for good reason, it turns out! By adding sensors and automating data collection and analysis, modernizing business practices to use new technologies and providing easy access to insightful data to all levels of the organization, companies are finding ways to unlock value never seen before in the manufacturing sector. Even industries that have traditionally operated in a tight margin environment, like Chlor-Alkali plants, have started recognizing the value of additional digital sensors and more sophisticated monitoring of electrolyzers and other critical equipment.
There are several Emerson digital technologies that have proven valuable to Chlor-Alkali (C-A) plants over the years. The first comment most people make about the C-A plant is it’s a very corrosive environment. Every material in that plant, from brine to chlorine gas to caustic to hydrochloric acid, has corrosive properties. So special materials and corrosion inhibitors must be used to extend the life of instruments, valves, vessels, pipes and equipment.
I caught up with Emerson’s Sergio Velasquez, a technical specialist with expertise in control and instrumentation, for some example best practices when considering instrumentation for C-A plants:
Sergio had been doing some internal investigation with our business units and found that over the past several years, the most popular digital solutions in the C-A industry have been:
To learn more about digital technologies and solutions that drive C-A improved business performance or to contact an Emerson representative, send an email to: Chemicals@emerson.com.
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