High demand of Dortmund’s know-how in China

LT Gasetechnik builds shield gas station for float glass plantEuphoric mood at LT Gasetechnik: The manufacturer of gas related equipment has secured a contract for building a gas mixing station in South China. The customer, AVIC Sanxin Co., Ltd, is one of the leading Chinese producers of float glass. The company is investing close on 330 million Euros in a new production line at Haikou, the capital of Hainan province. The LT gas mixing station will ensure the continuous supply of the float glass production with shield gas (N2/H2).Previously, AVIC Sanxin ordered the shield gas plants for the three existing float glass lines from the USA. But it´s German know-how that´s been sought for building the fourth line. A suitable partner for the technical planning and building of this complex gas mixing system was found in the medium-sized Dortmund company, LT Gasetechnik. LT´s managing director, Alfonso Castell, explains why: "The manufacturing process of float glass requires the production lines to operate around the clock and that means uninterrupted for a period of at least 15 years. Our modular control concept for shield gas supply facilitates optimum adaptation to individual customer needs. The design and implementation has to satisfy the sophisticated requirements of our customers. The float glass from AVIC Sanxin must fulfil the highest demands on quality as it shall be deployed in the domestic aircraft industry. One of China´s new and strongly promoted industrial sectors."Only a precise nitrogen-hydrogen mixture prevents oxidation of the fluid tin in that it forms a chemically controlled atmosphere above the tin bath. The fluid glass floats on the tin and stiffens, thereby remaining transparent.With a capacity of 2,000 Nm3/h, this is the biggest on-site supply system ever developed by LT Gasetechnik, according to Castell. The entire gas mixing station will be housed in an insulated, nine metre long container. A gas-tight partition wall separates the mechanical plant components from the analysis and control equipment. The container construction affords a particularly high level of protection not only against external physical impacts but also against extreme weather conditions. A special feature of the LT station is its redundant design: each gas mixing track has its own PLC controller and shield gas analyser.This facilitates a fully automatic switchover from the regular gas mixing track to the back-up track in the case of a fault and, indeed, without pressure surge. "A further important aspect is the high degree of automation of the plant. This also enables remote control operation from the plant operator´s control room", adds Alfonso Castell. Commissioning is planned for August 2011. 13.04.2011, LT GASETECHNIK/lt-gasetechnik.de