Compress - Press Control System

Compress is the Rosedowns press control system. It is designed to provide the optimum throughput and oil yields by continuously monitoring the press operation and regulating the flow of material into the press. Compress provides for automatic start ups and shut downs and protects the press from possible overloads and feed surges.

In ‘Normal Operation’ the system maintains a constant feed rate to the press and because a press is a volumetric system this gives the most consistent results. However, if the feed material conditions vary such that there is no feed to the press or high main motor loads are developing then the Compress system will adjust the feed rate to protect the press whilst maintaining the optimum performance.

Compress V is the current generation of the system and is built on standard PLC architecture. The Compress V system employs a new control logic that was implemented following highly successfully trials. The controls have also been simplified and designed to be even more operator friendly, making routine operation, system set up and calibration very easy

Supervisors can set certain limits on what settings an operator may apply. All high load and response times may be altered to suit the particular operating characteristics of the plant.

Compress V also benefits from the addition of a data logging facility with graphical displays as standard. Remote access to the system is also available via a standard Ethernet network and can be accessed via a web browser on a standard PC.

A variant of the Compress system will also work with an inverter on the main press drive. This allows the speed of the press wormshaft to be varied so that it can be set to exactly match the plant operating capacity. This option is especially suitable for plants operating a single press or for the last press in a line in multiple press plants.

The Compress system is intended for a plant control room location and can be supplied as a retro-fit control package or as part of a fully integrated panel that comes complete with all press related starters, inverters, meters and overload protection. A separate remote panel can be mounted near to the press to provide operating data. If the Compress is attached to a network then it is possible to monitor the Compress and press operation on any PC with access to the network.

The operating interface can be supplied in English, French, Spanish and Czech. Other languages may be provided on request.



OPERATING MODES

NORMAL OPERATION
In the Normal Operation mode the Compress system maintains a constant, operator set, feed rate to the press. This provides for optimum press operation and steady operation of the whole plant.  In this mode the system is continually monitoring for conditions that might cause a problem with the normal operation of the press and will switch to an alternative control mode if a problem is detected

HIGH LOAD PROTECTION
The press running load is constantly monitored by the Compress system, which will detect high load levels and automatically make appropriate adjustments to the press operation in order to control the high loads. The high load protection mode provides 3 distinct levels of protection for the press

High Load – This is the first level of protection and makes gradual adjustments to the feed rate in order to reduce a high load whilst maximising the press throughput.

Very High Load – If the load on the press continues to rise and a very high load is reached then the system will take more severe action to reduce the load to a safe level. This action can remove a load surge that could potentially stop and even damage the press.

Extremely High Load – If the very high load action has failed to stop the press load from rising further to an unacceptably high level then the extremely high load protection will activate and the press will be stopped immediately in order to prevent, or at least minimize, any possible damage to the press internals, as these extremely high loads are usually the results of foreign objects entering the press internals

LOW LOAD AND AUTOMATIC START-UP
If the  flow of feed to the press stops for any reason, typically as a result of a stoppage elsewhere in the plant, then the Compress system will reduce the press feeder speed to a safe level.  It will then maintain this feeder speed until the feed returns to the press at which time the feeder speed will be progressively increased until the normal operating condition is reached.  Restarting the press in this manner prevents any overload problems on start-up.  For example, if some very overcooked and dry material were to reach the press after a stoppage it might cause a very high load on the main press motor and if the feed rate was too high it may cause the press to stall.