Process Simulator Configuration Engine for Design Alternatives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current design methods for process facilities, such as oil and gas facilities, are not rigorous enough to handle the increasing complexity due to factors like complex feedstocks, tight product quality specifications, and volatile market conditions, leading to inefficiencies in identifying optimal design options and assessing project risks early in the design cycle.
Innovation Solution
A pre-screening and configuration engine for a rigorous process simulator that uses a library of templates and mathematical rules to automatically generate input data, determine feasible plant configurations, and assemble simulation models, reducing the time and effort required to create a rigorous simulation model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigorous process simulators are used to evaluate design alternatives, then design accuracy and reliability are improved, but time consumption and data requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating input data, selecting appropriate templates, and configuring process models before the actual simulation evaluation. This pre-processing automation eliminates manual data collection and model setup time, allowing rigorous simulation to be executed quickly once configured.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration engine performs self-service by automatically selecting templates based on process type, generating required input data through mathematical rules, and assembling simulation models without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by having the configuration engine autonomously complete the entire model setup process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration of plant topology and connectivity is performed, then design flexibility is maintained, but time consumption increases making it impractical for multiple alternatives
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration engine provides universal functionality by using parameter-driven template selection that can adapt to different process types and design scenarios. The same engine handles various plant configurations by automatically selecting appropriate templates based on input parameters, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration for each alternative.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes to drive template selection and model assembly. By changing input parameters (process type, capacity, constraints), the configuration engine automatically selects different templates and assembles corresponding simulation models, enabling rapid evaluation of multiple design alternatives with consistent flexibility.
3Measurement precision
If detailed process data is collected for rigorous simulation, then model accuracy is improved, but data collection time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration engine acts as an intermediary between available preliminary data and the rigorous simulation model requirements. It uses mathematical rules and relationships to generate missing detailed process data from readily available input parameters, eliminating the need for extensive manual data collection while maintaining model accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary data generation through mathematical rules before the simulation is executed. By pre-calculating and generating required process data from basic input parameters, the system ensures accurate simulation input is available without requiring time-consuming manual data collection at the point of use.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer modeling apparatus includes an input module enabling user specification of a subject facility design based on limited data. The subject facility design includes design alternatives, and a processor routine coupled to the input module and responsive to the user specification by forming an input data set to a rigorous simulation modeler to model the subject facility design. The rigorous simulation modeler requires input beyond the limited data. The processor routine enables execution of the simulation modeler. The computer modeling apparatus further includes an interface member that enables the production of a rigorous simulation model of the subject facility design from the simulation modeler. The subject facility is one of an oil processing facility, a gas processing facility, an oil and gas separation facility, or a chemical processing facility.