Layout design automation system and layout design method

Abstract

Reduces the workload of designers. [Solution] An automated layout design system according to an embodiment includes a storage unit and a frame generation unit. The route generation unit generates a route based on at least one of layout space information, dedicated layout space information, existing structure information, operation and maintenance information, piping layout standard information, and detailed design information stored in the storage unit, and generates components associated with the generated route. If the route generation unit places a component associated with the route in a location that cannot be operated from the ground, or if the component associated with the route is placed in a location that cannot be seen from the ground, the frame generation unit generates a frame based on the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information and the frame layout design conditions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a layout design automation system and a layout design method. [Background technology]

[0002] There are technologies for automating the design work of piping routes for plants, etc. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a technology for automatically generating a piping route that satisfies numerous constraints for connecting the start and end points of the piping in layout space information. It also describes technologies for generating not only piping routes, but also supports for supporting the piping route, valves for controlling internal fluids, and aggregation of generated structures.

[0003] In the layout design of a plant or the like, from the planning stage to the detailed design stage, the layout design must proceed while satisfying numerous constraints set forth in required specifications, safety standards, etc. The system described in Patent Document 1 can proceed with a piping layout plan that satisfies numerous constraints. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-86310 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Layout planning for a plant or the like requires comprehensive consideration of the layout of numerous pieces of equipment, including not only piping that carries fluids (gas, liquid, etc.), but also racks required for operating and inspecting valves and checking instruments. The system described in Patent Document 1 is capable of automatically designing piping routes, but is unable to automatically place racks required for operating and inspecting valves and instruments. Therefore, designers must independently consider the placement of racks. If the designer determines that there is insufficient space around the valves and instruments to install racks, it may be necessary to start the layout design over from scratch. The more the designer repeatedly conducts such considerations and redoes of the layout design, the greater the workload on the designer.

[0006] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to reduce the workload of designers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The layout design automation system according to the embodiment for solving the above problem is a layout design automation system that generates a route connecting a start point and an end point. The layout design automation system has a storage unit and a frame generation unit. The storage unit stores layout space information, layout dedicated space information, existing structure information, operation and maintenance information, piping layout standard information, detailed design information, and design information indicating frame layout design conditions. News The route generation unit stores the Memory information Generate a route based on the and operation or confirmation work is required. If the route generation unit places a part associated with the route in a position that cannot be operated from the ground, or if the route generation unit places a part associated with the route in a position that cannot be seen from the ground, the platform generation unit generates a part based on the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information and the platform layout design conditions. The height and space required for operating or checking parts can be secured. Generate a platform. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration diagram of a layout design automation system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart for explaining generation of a gantry by a gantry generation unit according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A layout design automation system according to an embodiment can be used to automatically design routes for pipes carrying fluids (gases, liquids, etc.), instrumentation pipes, electrical conduits, cable racks, air conditioning ducts, and the like in plant facilities and buildings. Here, a case where the layout design automation system is used in the layout design of plant facilities will be described with reference to the drawings. The layout design automation system generates a route connecting pipes carrying fluids (gases, liquids, etc.), instrumentation pipes, electrical conduits, cable racks, and air conditioning ducts by specifying their start and end points. The layout design automation system generates components such as valves associated with the generated route. When components such as valves associated with the generated route are placed in locations that cannot be operated from the ground (floor) or when components such as instruments associated with the generated route are placed in locations that cannot be seen from the ground, the layout design automation system has a function for generating a rack.

[0010] Here, instrumentation piping refers to piping that houses cables for transmitting information on measurement results such as temperature, pressure, and flow rate, and cables for transmitting signals to control the system, or piping that guides the fluid to be measured (gas, liquid, etc.) to a meter. Conduit refers to piping that houses cables that transmit electricity. In the following description, the building structures such as the ceiling, floor, and walls are referred to as the building frame, and structures other than the building such as piping and equipment are referred to as indoor structures. The building frame and indoor structures are sometimes collectively referred to as the structure.

[0011] The layout design automation system is physically a computer equipped with a CPU, memory, etc. The layout design automation system operates based on layout design application software stored in the memory.

[0012] 1 is a functional configuration diagram of a layout design automation system 1. The layout design automation system 1 has an input unit 10, a storage unit 21, a route generation unit 22, a support position determination unit 23, a piping component determination unit 24, a material quantity calculation unit 25, a frame generation unit 26, an output unit 30, and an external output unit 40.

[0013] The input unit 10 is composed of a touch panel, a keyboard, etc. The input unit 10 displays 3D CAD information of the building on the touch panel screen and acquires coordinate information of the start and end points of the pipes as specified by the designer. The input unit 10 also displays a list of the type and weight of the fluid to be passed through the pipes, the material of the pipes, the pipe diameter, etc. on the touch panel screen and acquires this information as specified by the designer. Furthermore, if there are multiple pipes, the input unit 10 acquires a priority order that determines which pipes should be prioritized for placement as specified by the designer.

[0014] Fig. 2 is a diagram for explaining the storage unit according to embodiment 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the storage unit 21 stores arrangement space information 21a, arrangement-dedicated space information 21b, existing structure information 21c, operation and maintenance information 21d, piping arrangement standard information 21e, detailed design information 21f, and frame arrangement design conditions 21g.

[0015] The layout space information 21a is 3D CAD information showing the structure of a building including equipment. The layout space information 21b is 3D CAD information showing the area in the building where piping is to be placed. The existing structure information 21c is 3D CAD information showing the position of existing structures.

[0016] The operation and maintenance information 21d is information that indicates the conditions for placement suitable for maintenance and inspection of instruments that require visual inspection, and the conditions for placement suitable for operating parts that require operation. Instruments that require visual inspection include flow meters, pressure gauges, and wattmeters. Parts that require operation include valves such as motorized valves and manual valves. The operation and maintenance information 21d includes conditions such as the height of instruments that are easy for maintenance personnel to see, the height and orientation of valve handles that are easy for maintenance personnel to operate, and the distance between instruments and valves and walls. The operation and maintenance information 21d also includes information on prohibited placement areas. Prohibited placement areas include areas where piping placement is prohibited, such as near passageways or storage areas for hazardous materials, and areas necessary for maintenance work on valves, etc.

[0017] The piping layout standard information 21e is information indicating design conditions for piping layout design. Specifically, the piping layout standard information 21e includes piping attribute definitions, distances between piping and floors, ceilings, and walls, distances between parallel piping, diameters and types of through-holes when through-holes are provided through structures (ceilings, floors, and walls), conditions specifying the location of through-holes in areas with high radiation doses in the case of nuclear power plants, selection of bent pipes, length of straight pipes (straight sections of piping) before and after instruments and orifices, construction tolerances, piping gradients, distances from other equipment, and conditions for centralized placement when multiple pipes are present. A bent pipe is a component obtained by bending a straight pipe. The piping layout standard information 21e also includes separation conditions for safety systems. The safety system separation condition is, for example, a condition that, in the case where an accident occurs in the first system piping route and the first system piping route is configured to be switched to the second system piping route, the first system piping route and the second system piping route are arranged separated by a wall or the like. This information is set according to the type of fluid to be passed through the piping, etc. Furthermore, the piping arrangement standard information 21e includes design conditions based on the experience and knowledge of experienced designers.

[0018] The detailed design information 21f is information indicating detailed design conditions. This detailed design information 21f includes conditions such as the length of straight pipes (straight sections of piping) before and after the instrument orifice, construction tolerances, piping gradients, and distances to other equipment. The detailed design information 21f also includes design conditions based on the experience and knowledge of experienced designers. Furthermore, the detailed design information 21f also includes concentrated placement conditions when there are multiple pipes.

[0019] The frame layout design conditions 21g are information indicating design conditions for frame layout design. Specifically, the frame layout design conditions 21g include frame installation standards, frame design standards, and component selection standards. The frame layout design conditions 21g also include design conditions based on the experience and knowledge of experienced designers.

[0020] 1, the route generation unit 22 generates a route for piping or the like from a coordinate indicating a start point to a coordinate indicating an end point based on at least one of the design information indicated in the layout space information 21a, the layout-dedicated space information 21b, the existing structure information 21c, the operation and maintenance information 21d, the piping layout standard information 21e, and the detailed design information 21f. The route generated by the route generation unit 22 includes routes for piping, instrumentation piping, electrical conduits, cable racks, air conditioning ducts, and the like.

[0021] The route generation unit 22 also generates components associated with the generated route. Components associated with the route include, for example, components that require operation, such as valves, and components that require confirmation, such as instruments. For example, when the route generation unit 22 generates a piping route through which a fluid (gas, liquid, etc.) passes, it generates valves, such as solenoid valves and manual valves, at predetermined positions. When the route generation unit 22 generates a route for instrumentation piping and electrical conduit, it generates instruments, such as pressure gauges and power meters, for measuring the values ​​to be measured.

[0022] The support position determination unit 23 determines support positions at which support members that support a pipe are placed based on the constant pitch span method (also called the standard support spacing method). The support position determination unit 23 determines support positions at which support members that support a pipe are placed based on the weight of the pipe and the weight of the fluid passing through the pipe. For example, the support position determination unit 23 determines support positions so as to support areas near load-concentrated portions of the pipe, such as the start point, end point, bends, and branches of the pipe, and determines support positions by the constant pitch span method based on a standard span (the distance between a support position and an adjacent support position) that is preset for straight pipe sections and bent pipe sections. Furthermore, when multiple piping routes generated by the route generation unit 22 are adjacent to each other or run parallel to each other, the support position determination unit 23 determines support positions at which two or more pipes among the multiple pipes can be supported by one support position.

[0023] The piping component determination unit 24 determines the length of each of the multiple components that make up the piping based on the piping route generated by the route generation unit 22 and preset transportation conditions. For example, the piping component determination unit 24 determines the length of each of the multiple components that make up the piping so that the length of each component is 10 m or less. The piping component determination unit 24 also determines the length of each of the multiple components that make up the piping so that the weight of each component is 100 kg or less. The piping component determination unit 24 also determines support members that support the piping based on the weight of the piping, the weight of the fluid that will pass through the piping, and the locations where the support members that support the piping will be fixed. The piping component determination unit 24 determines the support members based on the fixing locations (floor, ceiling, wall, etc.), the number of pipes to be supported, the weight of the piping and the fluid that will pass through the piping, etc.

[0024] The quantity tallying unit 25 creates a quantity table that tally the number of each component determined by the piping component determining unit 24. The quantity tallying unit 25 also creates a quantity table that tally the number of each component for the parts generated by the frame generating unit 26.

[0025] When the route generating unit 22 places a part associated with the route in a position where it cannot be operated from the ground, or when the route generating unit 22 places a part associated with the route in a position where it cannot be seen from the ground, the platform generating unit 26 generates a platform based on the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information 21d and the platform layout design conditions 21g. For example, when the route generating unit 22 places a part that requires operation, such as a valve, in a position where it cannot be operated from the ground, or when the route generating unit 22 places an instrument that requires confirmation, such as a pressure gauge or a power meter, in a position where it cannot be seen from the ground, the platform generating unit 26 generates a platform having the height and width required for each operation and confirmation operation in a position where the height and space required for each operation and confirmation operation can be secured.

[0026] For example, the route generation unit 22 may generate a manual valve at a position high above the floor on the route. A position high above the floor is a position higher than the height specified in the operation and maintenance information 21d. If a manual valve is provided at such a high position, it is difficult to apply force, making it difficult to operate the manual valve from the ground. In such a case, the platform generation unit 26 generates a platform having a height and space that allows operation and inspection of the valve. The platform generation unit 26 also determines the structure and components of the platform based on the platform height, live load, etc.

[0027] The mounts generated by the mount generation unit 26 include walkway mounts. Pipes that carry fluids (gas, liquid, etc.) may have a diameter of 1 meter or more. Routes for pipes that carry fluids (gas, liquid, etc.), instrumentation pipes, electrical conduits, cable racks, and air conditioning ducts may be arranged parallel to one another. Since it is necessary to ensure walking routes for workers to move across routes such as these pipes, the mount generation unit 26 generates walkway mounts based on the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information 21d and the mount layout design conditions 21g.

[0028] The output unit 30 is configured with a display or a printing device. The output unit 30 displays a 3D CAD image showing the piping route generated by the route generation unit 22, the positions of the support members determined by the support position determination unit 23, and the positions of the pedestal generated by the pedestal generation unit 26. The output unit 30 also outputs a material quantity table compiled by the material quantity compilation unit 25.

[0029] The external output unit 40 converts the route generated by the route generation unit 22, the support positions generated by the support position determination unit 23, the parts generated by the piping component determination unit 24, and the parts generated by the frame generation unit 26 into a format that can be used in a general-purpose CAD or the like, and outputs the converted data. The external output unit 40 can output, as a format for a general-purpose CAD or the like, CAD data that includes a lot of information such as a 3D CAD shape, 3D CAD attributes, and 3D CAD library, or CAD data with a small amount of data that includes only the 3D CAD shape and 3D CAD attributes.

[0030] Next, generation of a platform by the platform generation unit 26 of the layout design automation system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 3. Here, the description will be made taking as an example a case where the platform generation unit 26 generates a platform to be used when operating and inspecting a manual valve. The platform generation process by the platform generation unit 26 is performed after the route generation unit 22 has completed the first route generation process.

[0031] First, the gantry generation unit 26 determines whether or not there is a manual valve on the route generated by the route generation unit 22 (step g01). If there is no manual valve (step g01: No), the gantry generation process ends. If there is a manual valve (step g01: Yes), the gantry generation unit 26 determines whether or not the manual valve can be operated and inspected from the ground (floor) (step g02). Step g02 is a determination step.

[0032] If the manual valve generated by the route generating unit 22 can be operated and inspected from the floor (step g02: Yes), the gantry generation process ends.

[0033] On the other hand, if the manual valve generated by the route generation unit 22 cannot be operated or inspected from the floor (step g02: No), the platform generation unit 26 acquires the height and space conditions required for operating and inspecting the manual valve from the operation and maintenance information 21d (step g03). Since the operating conditions vary depending on the type of manual valve (size, shape, handle orientation, etc.), it is also necessary to satisfy placement conditions according to the type of manual valve. These necessary conditions are described in the operation and maintenance information 21d. Then, the platform generation unit 26 generates a platform at the height required for operating and inspecting the manual valve, satisfying the platform placement design conditions that allow workers to access the manual valve (step g04). Step g04 is the platform generation process.

[0034] In addition, if it is determined that a rack that satisfies the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information and the rack layout design conditions cannot be placed at the location where a part (manual valve) associated with the route was generated in the route generation process, the process may return to the route generation process and generate a new route in which the placement location of the part associated with the route has been changed.

[0035] The layout design automation system 1 outputs the data related to the components (mountings) generated by the mounting frame generating unit 26 from the external output unit 40 in a format usable by a general-purpose CAD, and ends the mounting frame generation process.

[0036] As described above, when the route generation unit 22 places a component associated with the route in a position where it cannot be operated from the ground, or when the component associated with the route is placed in a position where it cannot be seen from the ground, the platform generation unit 26 of the layout design automation system 1 according to this embodiment generates a platform that satisfies the conditions stipulated by the operation and maintenance information 21d and the platform layout design conditions 21g (ensuring the height and space necessary for inspection and confirmation work). Therefore, the designer does not need to carry out platform layout review work. Furthermore, as a result of the designer's review, there is no need to specify another route and start the layout design again from scratch. Therefore, the layout design automation system 1 according to this embodiment can reduce the workload of the designer.

[0037] When there are a plurality of parts that require operation, such as valves, or a plurality of instruments that require checking, such as flow meters and pressure gauges, the route generating unit 22 generates a route so that it can be handled with a small number of racks.

[0038] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments may be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the inventions and their equivalents as set forth in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1. Layout design automation system 10...Input section 21...Storage section 21a…location space information 21b…Placement space information 21c... Existing structure information 21d...Operation and Maintenance Information 21e...Piping layout standard information 21f…Detailed design information 21g… Mounting design conditions 22... Route generation section 23...Support position determining section 24...Piping material determination unit 25...Quantity Collection Department 26...Frame generating section 30...Output section 40...External output section

Claims

1. A layout design automation system that generates a route connecting a start point and an end point, a storage unit that stores layout space information, layout dedicated space information, existing structure information, operation and maintenance information, piping layout standard information, detailed design information, and design information indicating frame layout design conditions; a route generation unit that generates a route based on the information in the storage unit and generates parts that require operation or confirmation work in association with the generated route; a platform generation unit that generates a platform that can secure the space required for operating or checking the part based on the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information and the platform layout design conditions when the route generation unit places the part associated with the route at a position where it cannot be operated from the ground or when the part associated with the route is placed at a position where it cannot be confirmed from the ground; A layout design automation system having the above.

2. The route generated by the route generation unit includes routes for piping, instrumentation piping, electrical conduits, cable racks, and air conditioning ducts; the route generation unit generates parts associated with each of the generated routes; the gantry generation unit generates a gantry that satisfies the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information and the gantry layout design conditions for the components associated with each of the generated routes. The layout design automation system according to claim 1 .

3. The parts associated with the route include parts that require operation and instruments that require confirmation.

3. The layout design automation system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The platform generated by the platform generation unit includes a walkway platform.

3. The layout design automation system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. an external output unit that outputs the data related to the gantry generated by the gantry generation unit in a format that can be used by a general-purpose CAD; 3. The layout design automation system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. a step in which a designer inputs a start point and an end point of a route through an input unit of the layout design automation system; a route generation step in which a route generation unit of the layout design automation system generates a route from the start point to the end point based on the layout space information, layout-dedicated space information, existing structure information, operation and maintenance information, piping layout standard information, and detailed design information stored in a storage unit of the layout design automation system, and generates parts that require operation or confirmation work along the generated route; a determination step in which a platform generation unit of the layout design automation system determines whether the parts associated with the route are placed in a position where they cannot be operated from the ground, or whether the parts associated with the route are placed in a position where they cannot be seen from the ground, in the route generation step; a rack generation step in which, when the rack generation unit determines in the determination step that the component has been placed in a position where it cannot be operated or checked from the ground, the rack generation unit generates a rack that can ensure the height and space required for operating or checking the component based on the conditions indicated by the operation and maintenance information and rack layout design conditions; A layout design method including:

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