MechChem Africa March-April 2023

⎪ Hydraulic, pneumatic and automation solutions ⎪

S kipper Isabelle Joschke The French-German skipper, Isabelle Joschke, set sail in this challenging race in 2020/2021 in her IMOCA boat, the MACSF. IMOCA boats can be fitted with a canting or tiltable keel. The main performance benefit of this tiltable keel is that, when the keel is angled to the side that is facing the wind (windward), the tilt of the boat is reduced. In case of a possible capsize, the boat can be righted again by tipping the keel to its maximum extent. Since 2014, canting keels have been man datory in sailing races. The French company Hydroem delivers assembly kits for IMOCA boats, which are fitted with this type of keel. The keel is activated using an hydraulic cylinder built into the floor of the boat and connected to the keel. A distributor that con tains the electrical valves needed for control ling the hydraulic pressure sits between the hydraulic system components – an electric motor; a hydraulic pump and an oil reservoir – and the hydraulic cylinder.

mental strength as she was only one of six women who took part in 2020/2021 race. Her next opportunity will be in 2024. www.instrotech.co.za

to prevent this. At the time, she was lying in eleventh place and the leading woman in the Vendée Globe race. Despite difficulties, Isabelle Joschke delivered a noteworthy rac ing performance. She was driven by determination and

The hydraulic system components – an electric motor; an hydraulic pump and an oil reservoir.

Keller 21Y Specifications • Accuracy:

+0,5% FS

• •

Totalerrorband 1,5% FS @ -10 – 80 °C Pressure range: 0 - 2,5 to 0 - 1 000 bar

A key component of this system is the KELLER 21Y pressure sensor that is con nected to the distributor and used to measure the pressure acting on the keel cylinder. Through the system, the boat’s skipper can influence the keel directly using a control box to activate the distributor and power the keel, either to stabilise the boat or to save energy by making the keel sink down using a ‘release’ button. Unfortunately, skipper Isabelle Joschke was forced to withdraw on the 62 nd day of the race due to technical problems. Even cor rect use of the KELLER sensors was unable

The hydraulic distributor with electric valves that controls the cylinder pressure and position.

Digital automation technologies from Emerson will play a key role in the US$6 billion Ras Laffan chemical project in Qatar. A global software and engineering leader, Emerson will provide automation technolo gies, software and analytics for the Ras Laffan Petrochemical Complex in Qatar as part of a consortium with Viasat Energy Services, a division of global communications company Viasat. The $6 billion integrated polymers project, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and Chevron Phillips Chemical, is currently under construction and scheduled to go online in late 2026. The project is QatarEnergy's largest investment ever in the country’s pet rochemical sector. The complex will include an Emerson selected to automate ethane cracker ethane cracker with a capacity of 2.1-million tonnes of ethylene per year, making it the larg est ethane cracker in the Middle East and one of the largest in the world, as well as two high density polyethylene derivative units with a total capacity of 1.7 million tonnes per year. "We are honoured to have been selected as the lead automation contractor for such an important undertaking," said Vidya Ramnath, president of Emerson's Middle East & Africa business. "Emerson has been working with QatarEnergy for several years and we are proud to support the company's long-term vision. Our advanced automation and analy tics solutions will play a key role in the safe and efficient operation of this world-class facility."

“Viasat Energy has a long history of supporting world-class energy projects in Qatar,” adds Lee Ahlstrom, president of Viasat Energy Services. “We look forward to working with Emerson and our end customers to enable the network infrastructure for one of the largest and most technically advanced petrochemical facilities in the world.” Emerson will deliver integrated process control and safety systems that leverage advanced predictive technologies to reduce operational complexity and minimise project risk through its DeltaV™ distributed control system and Rosemount™ gas analyser solu tions. Viasat will design and provide an inte grated telecommunications infrastructure for the entire Ras Laffan facility. www.emerson.com

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