Chemical Processing - June 2008 - (Page 19)

Plants can solve a range of problems by leveraging design models EnginEEring modEls can play a significant role in improving plant efficiency and safety. Software modularization, user interface innovation and computing power increasingly open up opportunities for models in operations. This growing potential makes it even more critical to re-use the same models to solve different problems across the asset lifecycle and at different levels of granularity in operations. After all, a simulation that reliably predicts a particular application and situation becomes much more valuable if it can be applied to all tasks that require modeling of that unit or process. Indeed, the broader use of these models promises to have a profound business impact. So we’ll describe current trends toward re-use of models and the integrated workflows that result. First, let’s set the stage by briefly summarizing the business challenges that are spurring the use of modeling technology to address a complete plant lifecycle: • Pressure of global competition imposes the need to accelerate engineering, reduce capital costs and optimize operations. This increases the value of having one common set of models that can be used from process synthesis through to plant operations and debottlenecking. • Rapidly rising cost of energy and secondary cost of greenhouse gas emissions require the redesign and optimization of processes. Models suitable for use by design, plant engineering, compliance and operations groups are a key tool. • Shortages of skilled veteran engineers will continue over the next decade. Effectively transferring optimization expertise to new staff demands increasingly powerful and easy-to-use models that capture organizational knowledge and experience. These challenges call for moving to common models to solve multiple problems, making models simpler to use, and integrating models with other software to solve broader business problems. Today’s integrated modeling tools already attack many of these areas and the technology continues to evolve. KEy trEnds in modEling The role of process modeling is evolving in two distinct ways: 1. Initially modeling tools were developed to solve specific problems such as energy analysis, heat exchanger design, dynamic analysis and cost estimation. Next industry began to build links between these individual tools so they could share information and data. Then, with development of process data models and modularized tools, links evolved into real integrated process simulation workflow (Figure 1). This integrated approach yields time, cost and quality benefits. (Such streamlined workflow also offers advantages to engineering firms, which face increasing pressures to efficiently execute projects with fewer engineers. [1]) 2. Process models originally developed for frontend engineering design (FEED) now are being used in plant operations. Owner-operators increasingly rely on models to support operating decisions, to optimize processes in real-time and to improve the accuracy of planning systems. Let’s look at some ways integrated modeling now is providing value: Simulation/economics work process. The integration of economic analysis with the basic process development activity yields sizable benefits. Process engineers don’t need to wait until a formal package is handed over to the estimating department before gaining accurate understanding of the economic trade-offs between alternative designs. Process costs are calculated and optimized concurrently with the conceptual process development, allowing the engineers to better understand the economic impact of their design decisions. Fluor, which calls such integration “cost optimized design,” cites a number of benefits [2]. These include the ability to focus on technology/cost trade-offs early, improved quality of estimates and better cost awareness during design. BASF estimates it saves 10% to 30% in capital costs 19 chemicalprocessing.com JUne 2008 http://chemicalprocessing.com

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Chemical Processing - June 2008 Contents From the Editor ChemicalProcessing.com Field Notes In Process Energy Saver Compliance Advisor Achieve Model Operations Bolster Your Condition Monitoring Toolbox Particle Analysis Makes Solid Progress Improve Batch Reactor Temperature Control Improve Your Job Security Plant InSites Process Puzzler Equipment & Services Product Spotlight/Classifieds Ad Index End Point

Chemical Processing - June 2008

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