Design of control systems for fermenters at the Molecular Immunology Center

Abstract

The culture of mammals cells represents the main productive link of the Molecular Immunology Center (CIM) and the fermenters represent the heart of this productive and investigative processes. For the inability to grow in new fermentation equipment due to its high costs and services, we have been given the task of recovering equipment already discontinued due to problems in its control systems. This work is based on the control system implemented in the TechFors Fermenter situate on CIM’s pilot plant, whose main problems were in the expiration in its control system, errors in sequences of operation and measurement of variables, as well as lack of Technical support for the obsolescence of technology. To develop the re-automation of this equipment was used a PLC of the manufacturer Siemens to implement the control system and an industrial PC to carry out the monitoring and supervision of the system. STEP7 and WinCC Flexible softwares were used to develop programming and adjustment of all control loops, operations and equipment supervision. As a main result a new control system was designed and implemented in a fermenter, demonstrating that it is possible to rescue those already abandoned systems of fermentation over the years, giving them efficient and durable controls again.