Valve-actuator controls for Taiwan refinery nearly complete

March 22, 1999
AT THE END OF 1997, FORMOSA PLASTICS CHEMICAL CO., Kao Hsiung, Taiwan, contracted Rotork Controls Ltd. to provide nearly 3,000 valve actuators and associated control systems. The new equipment will be installed in Formosa's new 21 million metric ton/year grassroots refinery at Mailiao, to be completed in 2000. Rotork is providing its Pakscan two-wire digital control system to operate about 2,000 Rotork IQ intelligent valves. As of December 1998, 49 Pakscan IIE masterstations had been built
Rack-mounted Pakscan masterstations and Pakvision cabinets, shown here, are destined for Formosa Plastics Chemical Co.'s new Mailiao refinery. This equipment is in the final stage of inspection and testing at Rotork's U.K. factory.
AT THE END OF 1997, FORMOSA PLASTICS CHEMICAL CO., Kao Hsiung, Taiwan, contracted Rotork Controls Ltd. to provide nearly 3,000 valve actuators and associated control systems.

The new equipment will be installed in Formosa's new 21 million metric ton/year grassroots refinery at Mailiao, to be completed in 2000.

Rotork is providing its Pakscan two-wire digital control system to operate about 2,000 Rotork IQ intelligent valves. As of December 1998, 49 Pakscan IIE masterstations had been built to control 1,755 IQ actuators on two-wire loops.

Each masterstation creates a data base containing information from all the valves on the loop which it controls. The data, which are continually updated, are accessed using a Modbus protocol, allowing direct communication with the Foxboro I/A (intelligent automation) distributed control systems which will supervise the plant.

Rotork is also supplying its PC-based Pakvision software to monitor all the valve actuators. The software will serve as a diagnostic and maintenance tool. In one case, a single Pakvision PC will collect operating data from over 600 IQ actuators-the largest number for any installation to date, according to Rotork.

The Pakscan and Pakvision hardware are housed in specially designed racks and cabinets for installation in five refinery control centers. The equipment is being supplied and supported by Rotork's agent in Taiwan, Jer Diing Corp.

Representatives from Rotork's Singapore office will supervise the installation.

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