The large ARC (Amager Ressource Center) is much more than an incineration plant, and also much more than an impressive architecturally designed ski slope in the middle of Copenhagen, combining purpose and pleasure to the benefit of many Danes. Below the surface, a vast amount of complex technology is installed to make the plant both highly energy efficient and also secure that energy generated here is as green as possible.

It is a very large plant, also on an international scale. Babcock & Wilcox Vølund have installed the two primary boilers of the plant, both as large as can be, and with a very high efficiency. When a system of this magnitude is put into operation, it has to be done with care so that the previously cold plant is heated in a proper and gentle manner.

To this end, LBP Engineering has handled the overall mechanical and electrical review as well as the commissioning and programming of the distributed control system This has involved elements such as dosing valves for chemicals, conveyor belts, pneumatic control of ash transport, combustion air blowers, vibration control of bearings as well as chemical treatment of the water and steam cycle. Emphasis has been on the regulation and coordination between measuring points of the plant control systems.

“It was an exciting project, in great part because of the complexity. Before we were brought in, several of the oil valves kept breaking. We examined the cause and discovered that the programming was incorrect. A simple software error. To uncover that sort of thing, you need a basic understanding of the causality between processes and logic. For instance, if a valve lacks oil, it will quickly malfunction. To avoid this, the system has to be constructed logically. We have added a great deal of experience and have made a difference to this project by providing the necessary understanding of processes and system control,” says Asger Schade.