Polymer package removes bottlenecks

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Sep 29, 2006

Samsung Total Petrochemicals has realised significant benefits from the deployment of Pavilion's Model Predictive Control (MPC) polymer solution.

Samsung Total Petrochemicals has realised significant benefits from the deployment of Pavilion's Model Predictive Control (MPC) polymer solution to optimise production on its A-Train polypropylene line at the company's Daesan, Korea facility.

Samsung Total selected Pavilion's polymer solution to increase production, enhance product consistency and reduce raw materials consumption.

In less than nine months, Samsung Total has realised a payback on its investment of 140%.

This marks the 10th polymer control solution deployed at four Samsung Total Petrochemicals sites worldwide.

Based on the success of this project, Samsung Total recently elected to deploy Pavilion's polymer solution on its B-Train polypropylene line.

"Pavilion's polymer control solution has helped Samsung Total bring more, high-quality polypropylene to a booming Asian market quickly", said Samsung Total's Executive Vice President Graeme Burnett.

"This is critical, as it moves us closer to attaining our corporate goal of increasing our market share in Asia and the Middle East by 20% by 2010".

Samsung Total selected Pavilion's polymer solution based on Pavilion's proven record of delivering results for leaders in the polymer industry.

Through Pavilion's ValueFirst customer engagement methodology, an in-depth benefits analysis of the company's production process was conducted.

The team identified significant benefits that supported Samsung Total's key business objectives.

Specifically, Samsung Total wanted to achieve better control of the reactor, extruder and transition process complex phases in polypropylene production that are critical for increasing throughput, maintaining product consistency and minimising raw materials consumption.

The A-Train is a 150kt line based on Mitsui's Hypol I process technology.

As a result of the Pavilion polypropylene MPC solution, Samsung Total surpassed the expected benefits, achieving 140% ROI within one year.

Key benefits include: production increase of 3.1% due to the elimination of bottlenecks; production rate increase of 5.7% at the extruder; product consistency and process improvements of 27%; and enhanced predictive measurement accuracy with an average melt flow rate (MFR) accuracy rate of 95%.

With more commercial applications than any other supplier, Pavilion Technologies is a recognised leader in delivering model predictive control technology to the polymer industry.

Deployed on every major process technology and on all major catalyst types, Pavilion polymer solutions have an unrivalled track record of superior performance.

To date, Pavilion's polymer control solutions have been adopted by more than 84 lines and more than 103 reactors worldwide.

"Pavilion Technologies is committed to delivering immediate and measurable value to the world's leading polymer companies", said Pavilion Technologies CEO, Ralph Carter.

"The swift return on investment that Samsung Total achieved further validates that commitment and demonstrates how Pavilion helps polypropylene manufacturers meet global market demands".