At the end of each specific beer delivery process, a range of cleaning flushes can be performed on the beer delivery pipes, including Complete Caustic Flush, Hot Water Flush, Cold Water Flush and Seamer Flush. The new system uses conductivity meters to identify water, caustic soda or beer travelling through the pipes, and has alarms and warning messages to alert operators to faults. For further ease of use, the self-explanatory operator panels can now also identify the exact location of any fault when it occurs.
The new system was installed on the existing 17-year old can filler to free up filler operators and cleaners, and to ensure that beer losses are driven to a minimum. Any contaminates are now detected and removed from the system automatically. The CIP cleaning system is piped and electrically interfaced to an existing system that is used on an adjacent plant. The new system uses the Siemens OP270 to run the beer delivery system and the cleaning system. The Siemens TP170A HMI has been used to operate the product changes and both talk to the Siemens 300 PLC.
MPA worked closely with the filler operators to design an easy-to-operate flushing and beer delivery system. The HMI screen design and setups were completed before the initial change but the majority were installed during the Easter break. During this time a large amount of pipe work and new automatic valves were installed. The commissioning of the new system had to go hand in hand with the mechanical installation over a five-day period. The filler was flushed and the new beer system was up and running on the next production day. The new system is well in advance of the old setup and is far more operator friendly. After the upgrade was completed, MPA again worked with the operators to suggest further improvements to the system, which will be taken up in the future.
PLC
Siemens S7-300 PLC, Siemens OP270 Operator Panel & Siemens TP170A TouchPanel.
PROJECT COST $40,000
