Nova Chemicals picks Pavilion’s software for global APC solutions

Austin, TX-To optimize its plastics and petrochemical manufacturing processes, Nova Chemicals recently selected Pavilion Technologies as its worldwide partner for advanced process control (APC) technology. The terms of the agreement allow for implementation of APC technology at all of Nova’s sites to optimize manufacturing processes in its olefins/polyolefins and styrenics applications. By minimizing process variation and maximizing production rates, Pavilion's APC solutions will help Nova reduce total production costs while maintaining product quality and increasing consistency.

'Pavilion is an important partner with Nova Chemicals as we strive to continually improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our manufacturing facilities,' says Harry VanZeist, Nova's olefins/polyolefins manufacturing VP. 'Pavilion's APC solutions will help us reduce variable costs in our polymer plants by improving first-pass prime performance and reducing transition time.'

The agreement follows a pilot program conducted at Nova’s St. Clair River Site in Ontario, Canada. Completed in just five months, the pilot project quickly demonstrated its value by using Pavilion's Process Perfecter APC solution to reduce melt index variability by 10-20%. Pavilion's APC solution also offered a sustainable solution with relatively low cost of ownership.

Nova plans to deploy all of Pavilion's APC products in stages, including its Process Perfecter, Property Predictor, ClockWorx and Configuration Manager software. Project teams from both companies are currently working on implementation at several Nova facilities.

Key technologies included in this agreement are:

• Process Perfecter, which provides more reliable operation through patented, steady-state optimization and model-predictive control of complex and non-linear processes;
• Property Predictor, which creates Virtual Online Analyzers that deliver real-time projections of process and product conditions, enabling tighter process control;
• ClockWorx, which simplifies and codifies complex operations, such as reactor start-up, shut-down and donor or catalyst changes within transition Processes to help deliver more consistent operation; and
• Configuration Manager, which streamlines the controller update process for specification limits, blend limits and operating constraints throughout the production process.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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