Séché Environnement is one of the biggest players in France and the top specialist in the processing and storage of all kinds of waste (except radioactive waste), whether originating in industry or from local authorities. The group has more than 20 processing sites in France. Its original position, downstream from collection activities, puts it at the very heart of the most technically demanding industry. TREDI is a subsidiary specializing in hazardous industrial waste. The range of materials processed is immense, covering any waste which cannot be treated like household refuse.
A team of control engineers has been working since 2003 to develop a library of generic objects specific to each of the group’s activities, and to introduce suitable ergonomics and control elements. The group has decided that it will oversee development of the chosen control system in order to ensure as far as possible that it can be standardized and rolled out efficiently, quickly and consistently across its other plants, so the control applications can easily be grouped together in one single physical location: for some tasks, logging and reporting are already centralized.
The PcVue solution was first installed at the industrial site in SALAISE SUR SANNE (France, Isère) in 2005.
This is SECHE Group’s largest heat processing and energy recovery center: It processes around 250,000 tons per year made up of hazardous waste (HW), non-hazardous industrial waste (NHIW), household waste and infectious clinical waste. This first deployment involved the water treatment unit. The priority was to define object standards and a whole special library was developed for PcVue and the logic controllers.
The decision was taken to adopt OFS-based communications.
“At the time, we looked at what was available on the market, and the real advantage with PcVue is that it’s a complete solution, with no need to be constantly buying new modules. Since we were already looking to plan long-term for the product, this was a determining factor,” said Mr. Therrien, SECHE Group’s Industrial IT Manager.
PcVue was then progressively introduced into units one, two and three at the Salaise site. “We started with a complete revamp of Salaise Unit One, with its two rotary furnaces: Here, PcVue supervises all process functions and common tasks, meaning about 30,000 variables are being monitored. Then, with the partial revamping of Salaise Two following the installation of a new waste injection system, allowing it to operate in sealed mode: This revamp followed the signing of the waste treatment contract, which resulted from the illegal dumping of the PROBO KOALA cargo in Ivory Coast. And finally, Salaise Three, where the replacement of the control system is currently under way. Rockwell process logic PLCs are to be replaced by Telemecanique PLCs under Unity and PcVue (two input/output servers and five client stations).”
Mr. Therrien adds: “Among the other advantages of PcVue compared with other solutions on the market, we are particularly happy with the object-oriented database organization. When objects are created, they can very easily find the items, the PLCs to control. In the past, to manage a monitoring variable, you had to name it and set up assignment tables; now we don’t even have work with addresses or variables in the PLC.
Exchange tables are created automatically via OPC. Graphical functions are also of great value and easy to implement. It is very easy to switch between runtime and development mode. We can then change or add functions to a working plant. Finally, I’d also say that we have experienced a high level of service from PcVue teams and the hotline.”
PcVue is also widely used by the SECHE Group to monitor power plants generating power from the biogas coming from the household waste storage centers. Their drainage and pumping networks collect the biogas generated by the decomposition of the waste, which largely consists of methane. The biogas is then injected into turbines to produce electrical energy.
PcVue has been installed at the DRIMM storage center near Toulouse (France, Haute-Garonne), and more recently, the Changé plant just outside Laval (France, Mayenne): A boiler takes the combustion gases from the turbine to produce steam. In Changé, this steam is used to dry fodder from farming operations.
PcVue is also installed at the SVO site in Vienne and the Opale site in Nord Pas de Calais (France).
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