Plastics By Computer
A new system of controlling a chemical plant which has recently been brought into action by Britain’s Imperial Chemical Industries was reported by Denny Desoutter in the 8.8. C. World Service programme, "Science in Action.” The interesting point about this system is not merely that a computer controls the'plant —it also decides what kinds of product to make in the light of the current market 'situation. The plant produces ethylene, a compound used to make a variety of plastics and artificial fibres. The computer compares current market prices for the products with the current costs of rav material, and decides whicl form of ethylene will be mos: profitable to make. Apart from this, it check' the efficiency of the plant b; watching its actual working monitoring signals from 20( instruments placed at variou key points in the processes This may all seem too easy to be true: but what mus: not be forgotten is that ; computer can only do wha man has told it to. In thi case, it took 1.C.1. staff tw years to work out the com puter's instructions.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19681120.2.210
Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31841, 20 November 1968, Page 24
Word Count
184Plastics By Computer Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31841, 20 November 1968, Page 24
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