{"id":460,"date":"2012-06-20T14:36:37","date_gmt":"2012-06-20T18:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/umaine.edu\/pdc\/?page_id=460"},"modified":"2021-06-16T12:00:35","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T16:00:35","slug":"pilot-plant-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/pdc\/facilities-available-for-use\/papermaking\/pilot-plant-upgrade\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilot Plant Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
\n

\"Pilot<\/a>
Advanced Integrated Control<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/dt>\n<\/dl>\n<\/div>\n

The PDC has completed a major upgrade to its pilot plant located at Jenness Hall on the Orono campus.<\/p>\n

New Distributed Control System.<\/strong> The centerpiece of the pilot plant upgrade is a state-of-the-art distributed control system. The new control system, Honeywell\u2019s Experion MX, provides superior visibility into the entire papermaking process. The system\u2019s integrated distributed and quality controls allow operators to monitor all critical process parameters in one display. This upgrade helps the PDC to more efficiently scale-up and commercialize new products and processes.<\/p>\n

Data Collection and Historian System.<\/strong>\u00a0 A complete data collection and management system, donated to the PDC by OSIsoft, Inc., was installed in parallel to the new supervisory control system and is now fully operational.\u00a0The PI System is the industry standard in enterprise infrastructure for management of time series data and events. The system safeguards data and has many advantages including optimizing process improvements within real-time infrastructure systems. Our new PI system now provides state-of-the-art performance management and offers the PDC and its research partners access to the event-data needed for innovative research and development.<\/p>\n

Web Pilot Coater\/Laminator.<\/strong>\u00a0The application of coatings to the surface of substrates is a primary means of adding value and functionality to webs of paper, foil, or composites. The upgraded coating capacity at the PDC, featuring our new Pilot Laboratory Coater, is engineered to coat commercially made base papers or specialty base papers produced on our pilot paper machine using a variety of coating application methods. The new Pilot Laboratory Coater at UMaine offers a broad range of coating applications for:<\/p>\n