Control system of Vahala Meat Processing Plant

VAHALA Meat Processing Plant was built in 1998 in Hustopece nad Becvou, Czech Republic. The meat processing plant is divided into the production part, administration offices and technical level. The company is specialized in production and wholesale of meat products. VAHALA a spol. s r.o. produces formed hams, pates, smoked meat, roasted meat and meat in aspic.

The production plant was in need of a Control System after completion of construction. Complete installation of the Control System was carried out by TECONT s.r.o. The SCADA-based Control System consists of two TECOMAT PLC devices (TECOMAT NS 950 RAPID a TECOREG TR300) and the Reliance SCADA/HMI System. The PLC devices along with the Reliance SCADA provide control and reliable visualization of the meat processing systems.

The Reliance SCADA/HMI system provides visualization and control of:

Heating System and Water Supply System

• Hot water boiler control
• Circulatiion pump control
• Hot water circuit control
• Preheating of water supply

Air-conditioning System

• Control of the air-conditioning units used for air-conditioning of the production areas
• Ventilation system of the Boiler Room
• Ventilation system of the Machinery Room
• Ventilation system of the Fitting Room

Machinery Room

• Control of two SABROE ammoniac compressors over the RS232 serial line
• Regulation of the ammonia level in the expansion tank
• Control of the pumps used for pumping the ammonia
• Control of the electric fans used for cooling of the condensors
• Control of the water pump used for pumping the cooling water
• Control of the hot water heat-exchanger

Cooling System

• Control of twenty cooling units mounted on the ceilings of the cooling chambers and production areas
• Measuring and indication of the temperature in the refrigerating rooms

Machinery Room with compressed air tanks

• Control and monitoring of compressors

Further monitoring and measurement

• Redundant detection of ammonia leaks in production and technical areas
• Control of the smoking-chambers
• Control of the CERTUSS steam generator
• Control of power consumption

Control and visualization is provided by the Reliance SCADA/HMI system installed on the control computer. The control computer is located in the control coom. Reliance obtains data from both PLCs (NS950 RAPID and TECOREG TR300). Data from the processes are stored in the Reliance database. The data can be used for many other purposes. For example, authorized operators can display historical data on the control computer's monitor or print the data. Reliance also provides displaying and acknowledging of current alarms and events such as controlling important parameters and time programs.