Automatic generation of dynamic simulation models based on standard engineering data

Dynamic process simulation is used to mitigate risks, reduce costs and improve quality of design in plant engineering. Traditionally, simulation models are created manually from engineering source data. Benefits of utilising simulation are recognised by the industry, but simulation is not exploited to its full potential due to its current laborious nature. Engineering software interoperability improves efficiency in engineering workflows. Required manual work is reduced, enabling faster and more robust design to be conducted. In process industry and power generation, the ISO 15926 standard is being adopted as a neutral engineering data classification. In this paper, work conducted by authors in integrating the dynamic process simulation software Apros into the engineering workflow by automatically creating simulation models based on standard engineering data is reported. A case study was conducted to demonstrate the implemented features. Process engineering data in the Proteus XML format was used as the source data for simulation model generation. The case study shows that the implemented features reduce manual work required, lowering the threshold for utilising simulation.