From DOWNSTREAMTODAY:Bitumen Prices Bubble Up as Glut Melts

Alberta called it the "bitumen bubble," and warned earlier this year that low prices for its heavy oil would bleed billions from corporate and government bottom lines.

But only months later, bitumen is back, as trains help to clear export clogs and pipeline construction opens new avenues for crude to move to market." read the full article here

What is your opinion on this? Pipeline? trains? Any other options?
"Right now, Albertans are not receiving fair value for their resources and that is what motivates us to continue to push for greater access to markets and to reach tidewater."

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Did you download PRO/II 9.2, PIPEPHASE 9.6, DYNSIM 5.1, & ROMeo 6.1 yet?

SimSci Suite 2013

All SimSci-Esscor software on a single DVD to make it easier for you!

SimSci Suite 2013 includes all current SimSci-Esscor simulation and components to enhance your experience.

This new comprehensive DVD will be updated every 12 to 18 months, providing for a more structured software deployment and maintenance. Individual product patches or service packs will be released as needed. SimSci Suite 2013 supports your full plant lifecycle, from process design to operator training to process optimization.

SimSci Suite 2013 contains the brand new releases of PRO/II 9.2, INPLANT 4.3, PIPEPHASE 9.6, DYNSIM 5.1, and ROMeo 6.1

The following simulation software products are on the SimSci Suite 2013 DVD:

Process Design Software	Operator Training and Simulation Software	Process Optimization Software
PRO/II 9.2 VISUAL FLOW 5.5 INPLANT 4.3 HEXTRAN 9.2 DATACON 3.2 SIM4ME Portal 2.2 PIPEPHASE 9.6	DYNSIM 5.1 TRISIM Plus 2.2 FSIM Plus 4.7.1 OTS Engines 1.1	ROMeo Material Balance Module 6.1 ROMeo Performance Monitoring 6.1 ROMeo Process Optimization 6.1 ROMeo Utilities Optimization 6.1 ROMeo Refinery Modeling 6.1 Connoisseur 15.4

Please go to the SimSci-Esscor Electronic Software Download (ESD) site to request your copy today! 

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How are pseudocomponents treated in the calculation of GHV?

The GHV for pseudocomponents is determined by a correlation that is based on molecular weight.

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Links to view free webinar recordings on SimSci-Esscor Software

We finished another month of successful Webinars. If you want to see the past recordings please follow these links, register and enjoy.

• 10 Most Common Simulation Pitfalls (Part 1) October 10, 2012
• 10 Most Common Simulation Pitfalls (Part 2) October 17, 2012
• Supplying Component Properties_ Regression, Estimation and Use of Missing or Confidential Property Data November 7, 2012
• Development of Steady-State and Dynamic Simulations of a 10’’ diameter, 300 km LPG-pipeline from the Gulf of Mexico November 28, 2012
• Heat Exchanger Simulation - PRO_II Interface with HTRI December 12, 2012
• Developing New Mixture Interaction Parameters January 9, 2013
• SimSci HDP for Hydrotreating and Hydrocracking Reactor Models January 23, 2013
• PRO_II Customization and Output February 6, 2013
• Extension of PRO_II using Visual Basic Script February 20, 2013
• Model Selection for Electrolytes March 6, 2013
• New Features of PRO/II 9.2 March 20, 2013
• Dynamic Simulation for Engineering Studies April 10, 2013
• SIM4ME Portal May 10, 2013
• Property and Thermodynamic Model selection and Data Sufficiency May 22, 2013

About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

Read More

What are the current versions of your SimSci-Esscor software?

Want to know what the current release of your favorite SimSci-Esscor software is?


Click here to vist the blog - look in the upper left hand corner of the blog where the current versions will always be listed!

As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

Read More

SimSci-Esscor Training Courses

SimSci-Esscor Training Courses

SimSci-Esscor is an Invensys solution that offers applications to give your plant a competitive edge in today’s global economy.  SimSci-Esscor offers integrated simulation, optimization, training, and process control software and services. For over 45 years, these applications have been improving profitability and performance in plants across the globe.

If you have decided to use SimSci-Esscor products but you do not where to begin, Invensys Operations Management is now offering training courses. These courses will provide the necessary guidance to use SimSci-Esscor applications that will allow your plant to reach its full potential and maximize performance and profitability. 

New to SimSci-Esscor products?  Are you looking to refresh your skills?  Update your skills?

Join us worldwide for a SimSci-Esscor training course.

To register for the upcoming training course visit http://iomtraining.invensys.com/simsci/public

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Changing back pressure threshold in VISUAL FLOW

Back pressure threshold for different type of relief valves can be modified / changed in VISUAL FLOW as follows:

1.       Go to Task > Diagnostic Thresholds > Back-Pressure Threshold

2.       The defaults values are as shown and can be changed in this window

About VISUAL FLOW: SimSci VISUAL FLOW is a fluid flow simulator that designs, rates, and analyzes oil and gas flare networks. This Invensys application provides safer design and operation for engineers while also providing a reduced capital and operating cost. VISUAL FLOW is DIERS compliant while also complying with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), API 520, and Health Safety and Environment (HSE) regulatory requirements. This application is integrated with the SIM4ME Portal, creating a user-friendly environment based on an Excel interface.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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DYNSIM Back-up tip!

The model configuration and graphics data for each DYNSIM model are saved in the S4M file. However, DYNSIM also provides the capability to back up the simulation in XML form which is a compact, readable format.


To generate the XML file, click the File menu and select Backup Simulation. If you are currently connected to a particular simulation, the Simulation field is already selected for you. The Filename field already has a default absolute path and filename, but these can be changed as required. Once you are happy with the path and name click the BACKUP button to proceed with the backup.

To restore a back-up XML file, click the File menu and select Restore Simulation. In the Restore Simulation dialog box click the Browse button and select the desired XML file. Give the simulation a name in the New Simulation field to which the backup file will be restored. Finally, press the RESTORE key to commence the restore operation. The restoration details can be viewed in the message monitor.

The restored XML file does not include details of the Initial Conditions or Backtracks. However, the data of IC's or Backtracks is available in the .S4M file present in your working directory and can be copied from one to the other using a tool such as WinZip to open the .S4M file.

About DYNSIM: DYNSIM is part of the Dynamic Simulation Suite from Invensys, assisting in process design, controls checkout, and control system design. This dynamic simulator helps plant management operate in a safe and profitable manner. Its operator training simulator provides safer operation while also improving performance and productivity. One example is using DYNSIM to evaluate flare and relief systems in a plant to raise the safety standard by making sure that the flares can handle the loads as they occur dynamically. DYNSIM is a cost-effective program, reducing the cost of process equipment.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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From CHE.com: Petroleum Refining Outlook :: Chemical Engineering

"Petroleum from shale and oil sands offers opportunities for North American refiners, but the shifting crude diet also presents challenges, as refiners look to match product output with demand"

Petroleum Refining Outlook :: Chemical Engineering

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Dynamic Simulation enhances competitive positions

Guest Blogger: Lourdes Reyes, OTS Sr. Consultant, Invensys

The need to keep a competitive position in the global market has forced engineering and operating companies to improve the process design of grassroots and existing plants to reduce capital expenditure (CAPEX), increase safety, and improve availability and profitability.

Dynamic simulation provides a very accurate and quantitative understanding of highly complex and highly integrated plants in order to analyze their operability predict the dynamic behavior of the real system before the capital is committed to a project.

With an expertise in process modeling, industry experience and the use of state-of-the-art technology, the Invensys’ Engineering Services Team delivers operating and design recommendations as well as a complete DYNSIM based simulation model for application areas such as:

• Relief System upgrade analysis 
• Reactor Depressuring Studies 
• Steam System Design 
• Turbo-machinery Controls Design 
• Furnace Draft Implosion/Control Studies 
• IGCC gasification and operation studies 
• 2nd generation biofuels and Biomass gasification 
• Design and operation of chemical plants 
• LNG process design and analysis 

Get our technical brochure to learn more about the Invensys’ SIM4ME Services Program based on DYNSIM Dynamic Simulation and see how Invensys can help you to increase your profitability.

About DYNSIM: DYNSIM is part of the Dynamic Simulation Suite from Invensys, assisting in process design, controls checkout, and control system design. This dynamic simulator helps plant management operate in a safe and profitable manner. Its operator training simulator provides safer operation while also improving performance and productivity. One example is using DYNSIM to evaluate flare and relief systems in a plant to raise the safety standard by making sure that the flares can handle the loads as they occur dynamically. DYNSIM is a cost-effective program, reducing the cost of process equipment.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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PRO/II Reference Streams

What can be overwritten in a reference stream in PRO/II?

- Temperature, Pressure, & Molar Rate

- Composition is always obtained from the referenced stream.


About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

Read More

What are the current versions of your SimSci-Esscor software?

Want to know what the current release of your favorite SimSci-Esscor software is?


Click here to vist the blog - look in the upper left hand corner of the blog where the current versions will always be listed!

As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

Read More

SimSci-Esscor Training Courses

SimSci-Esscor Training Courses

SimSci-Esscor is an Invensys solution that offers applications to give your plant a competitive edge in today’s global economy.  SimSci-Esscor offers integrated simulation, optimization, training, and process control software and services. For over 45 years, these applications have been improving profitability and performance in plants across the globe.

If you have decided to use SimSci-Esscor products but you do not where to begin, Invensys Operations Management is now offering training courses. These courses will provide the necessary guidance to use SimSci-Esscor applications that will allow your plant to reach its full potential and maximize performance and profitability. 

New to SimSci-Esscor products?  Are you looking to refresh your skills?  Update your skills?

Join us worldwide for a SimSci-Esscor training course.

To register for the upcoming training course visit http://iomtraining.invensys.com/simsci/public

 

Read More

From Hydrocarbon Processing: Carbon capture technology becoming cost effective

Carbon capture technology becoming cost effective
The Cost Reduction Task Force, which authored the report, found that carbon capture and storage technology could be a viable option for the UK government in meeting its carbon reduction targets. The report estimated that CCS technology could soon generate electricity at a breakeven cost.

Read the full article here

I think this is great news for global warming - reducing greenhouse gasses!

SimSci-Esscor Software is used for carbon capture!

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Repost: Customizing the PRO/II Toolbar

The Toolbar in PRO/II allows the user to access key data entry windows and other program features quickly and easily. The user can configure the Toolbar to increase or reduce the number of items displayed, or to change the order in which items are displayed to suit personal preference.
This can be beneficial on machines with low screen resolution and where a reduced or re-ordered Toolbar is preferred for clarity. Toolbar Customization is accessed through the View/Toolbar menu option.


About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Save the Date for the North America SimSci-Esscor User Group Meeting

Avantis, SimSci-Esscor, Wonderware User Group Meetings - Oct 15-17 - Save the Date!

Will you be there? I hope to see you there!

Interested in presenting - let me know!

Interested in a specific topic - let me know!

We will be working on an agenda in the coming months, so now if a great chance to provide feedback on what you want to see. 

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From DownstreamToday: Global Shale Oil Impact to Vary By Country

Really interesting article on shale oil and how it will affect the global economy.

Shale oil production could revolutionize global energy markets, reducing oil prices and bolstering the economy globally, but its impact will vary on a country-by-country basis.
Read the full entry here

Where do you stand on shale oil and gas?

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How do you feel about your OTS?

What do you really think of your OTS? 

Check out the PowerPoint headline to find out what one customer said at the recent ARC conference......

                    "This thing just paid for itself"

Now that is a strong statement. So, if OTS is paying for itself with benefits, why isn't your plant implementing OTS from Invensys?

About Operator Training: Invensys offers a computer-based training method, Operator Training Simulators (OTS), to help give operators the skills they need to run a process or plant. Refineries and other plants are being forced to rely on inexperienced operators due to the aging workforce. Undertrained employees reduce performance and profitability in a refinery and may also risk the safety of other employees. The aging workforce is moving closer to the age of retirement, making it imperative to train younger, less experienced employees. Invensys offers an Operator Training System to aid refineries in educating inexperienced operators, who will soon be relied upon to operate the refinery and perform operational excellence.

Operators learn the ins and outs of a refinery in this virtual control room. DYNSIM is a model that controls the plant response. Trainees learn how to react appropriately when a similar situation occurs in the actual plant. DYNSIM Checkout is the first process dynamic simulation product designed specifically for control checkout. This solution can validate control system design before it is installed in the plant which eliminates many problems that occur during startup.

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Cleaning up a PRO/II Flowsheet

How do I clean up a messy flowsheet in PRO/II?

A few days ago we showed you how to create tabs in your PFD. Also known as flowsheets. Today we’ll show to you how you can improve the look of your simulation using flowsheets in PRO/II 9.2.

Let’s start with a very bad looking simulation. Would you have a PFD with an entire plant on one single piece of paper? Probably not. No need to do it in PRO/II either.



That’s what you get if you import C:\Users\UserID\Documents\SimSci\PROII92\Applib\Casebook_VCM_Plant.inp

If you want to follow along, copy the file first so you do not destroy the good Casebook_VCM_Plant - Copy.prz that comes with the package.

Let’s divide this simulation into two reaction sections and two purification sections plus a quench.

COL3 and COL4 belong on one purification section.

Getting a rectangle around them and collapse like we showed the other day will also take a lot of other unit operations on the flowsheet. Instead you can first create the flowsheet by dropping a “BLOCK diagram” from the palette, give it a name (COL_3_4), and open it. It will be blank.

Move to the main flowsheet now, and select FLS7, while pressing shift key select COL3, and COL4. A rectangle will form , but only COL3 and COL4 will be selected. Right Mouse click and select Cut, or do a Ctrl-X. Now move to the flowsheet previously created and paste (right mouse paste or Ctrl-v).

Return to main flowsheet. Create a second block, name it COL_1_2. Open it. Return to main flowsheet. Select MIX5, FLS3, MIX6, COL1, MIX7 and COL2, cut and paste them inside COL_1_2. You may want to rearrange a little.

Return to main flowsheet. Create third block, name it DirectRx. Open it. Return to main flowsheet. Select MIX1, SPL1, RX1, RX2, MIX2, FLS1, STC2. Cut/paste onto DirectRx. Rearrange a bit. Oops, we forgot to add CAL2, let’s go back to main flowsheet, cut CAL2 and paste it into DirectRx.

Return to main flowsheet. Create a new block, name it OXYRX. Select MIX3, SPL2, RX3, RX4, MIX4 STC3, and FLS2. Curt and paste into OXYRX.

Now may be you can select the rest of the units using a rectangle and cut all of them at once. For that you create a new Block, rename the block Quench. Select a rectangle covering all the rest of the unit operations, and cut it. Move into Flowsheet Quench and paste. Now a little arrangement.


Return to main flowsheet. Window/Tile horizontally and zoom 100 each small view. You can enlarge either one individually and rezoom to 100.

Not too bad, and it is much easier to see and use! Run and see it working.


You can play this video to see the steps. It only takes 7 minutes to do the entire process!

About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Displaying results on flowsheet in VISUAL FLOW

Displaying results on flowsheet in VISUAL FLOW

1. Run and converge the VISUAL FLOW simulation

2. Go to the tool bar and click select the text box option

3. Click on the object for which the results are to be viewed e.g. vessel, RV, links, outlet etc and text boxes as shown below will appear on the flowsheet.

About VISUAL FLOW: SimSci VISUAL FLOW is a fluid flow simulator that designs, rates, and analyzes oil and gas flare networks. This Invensys application provides safer design and operation for engineers while also providing a reduced capital and operating cost. VISUAL FLOW is DIERS compliant while also complying with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), API 520, and Health Safety and Environment (HSE) regulatory requirements. This application is integrated with the SIM4ME Portal, creating a user-friendly environment based on an Excel interface.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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From the BBC: US shale shifts global power balance

"US shale shifts global power balance"

"A sharp rise in shale oil reserves is set to turn the US into a net exporter of oil, hitting demand for supplies from the Middle East, a report says." 
Read the full story here

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Exergy Calculations

Exergy (or availability) calculations may be requested by the user by selecting the Miscellaneous Data option of the Input menu and checking the Include Exergy Analysis check box. When requested, exergy calculations are performed in the final stages of writing the PRO/II output report. As such, exergy calculations are not available during, and in no way whatsoever affect, flowsheet convergence. Exergy results appear after the Stream Summary reports in the PRO/II output report. The availability function, B, is defined as:

B = H - TS

where:

H = enthalpy

T = temperature

S = entropy

About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs. Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team

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Refinerlink: Oil Refinery Career Paths for Chemical Engineers

Very Interesting article about careers in refining from Refinerlink.

Have you just started your career or are interest in a career in oil refining? Read on and I’ll show you what promising opportunities lie ahead.Read the full article here

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Invensys Yield Accounting Solution

http://iom.invensys.com/EN/Pages/Solutions_InvensysYieldAccountingSolution.aspx?ls=scl&utm_source=McMullenBlog

About Yield Accounting: The Yield Accounting solution from Invensys addresses one of the most stressing issues of a refinery, petrochemical plant, or other processing facility: unaccounted losses. This solution improves the efficiency in a facility with data reconciliation, which finds errors in raw plant data and closes the mass balance and production accounting, which allows the plant to better account for feedstock and products. Material tracking and product yield tracking accounts for inventory and pinpoints losses. 

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Invensys Enhances Usability of SimSci-Esscor Simulation Software

And here is the official news release from my blog announcement earlier! SimSci Suite 2013 News Release

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INTRODUCING SimSci Suite 2013 with PRO/II 9.2, PIPEPHASE 9.6, DYNSIM 5.1, & ROMeo 6.1

SimSci Suite 2013

All SimSci-Esscor software on a single DVD to make it easier for you!

SimSci Suite 2013 includes all current SimSci-Esscor simulation and components to enhance your experience.

This new comprehensive DVD will be updated every 12 to 18 months, providing for a more structured software deployment and maintenance. Individual product patches or service packs will be released as needed. SimSci Suite 2013 supports your full plant lifecycle, from process design to operator training to process optimization.

SimSci Suite 2013 contains the brand new releases of PRO/II 9.2, INPLANT 4.3, PIPEPHASE 9.6, DYNSIM 5.1, and ROMeo 6.1

The following simulation software products are on the SimSci Suite 2013 DVD:

Process Design Software	Operator Training and Simulation Software	Process Optimization Software
PRO/II 9.2 VISUAL FLOW 5.5 INPLANT 4.3 HEXTRAN 9.2 DATACON 3.2 SIM4ME Portal 2.2 PIPEPHASE 9.6	DYNSIM 5.1 TRISIM Plus 2.2 FSIM Plus 4.7.1 OTS Engines 1.1	ROMeo Material Balance Module 6.1 ROMeo Performance Monitoring 6.1 ROMeo Process Optimization 6.1 ROMeo Utilities Optimization 6.1 ROMeo Refinery Modeling 6.1 Connoisseur 15.4

Please go to the SimSci-Esscor Electronic Software Download (ESD) site to request your copy today! 

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From Hydrocarbon processing: Ecopetrol approves additional funding for the modernization of its Cartagena refinery

The decision was made after the management team of Reficar asked for the additional funds based on an estimated budget of $6,467 million. Read more here

My favorite quote from the article: "The modernization of the refinery is expected to make the refinery a strategic asset for the energy security of Colombia."

Where are the strategic assets in your country - and are they being keep up-to-date?

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Energy Management Infographic - ROMeo can lower your energy costs

What can ROMeo do for your energy costs?

About ROMeo Utilities Optimization: The SimSci ROMeo Utilities Optimization solution is being used to optimize performance in plants across the globe by minimizing usage of steam, water, fuel, and other utilities. Plant energy costs can be reduced by 3 to 5 percent with the help of this software. Plant management is always concerned about energy management and ever-changing environmental restrictions and constraints. This software monitors and even helps reduce emissions of CO2, SOX & NOX by placing limits on those emissions as part of the solutions calculations. With all of the benefits this solution has to offer, management can expect a typical payback in 6-12 months or less.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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repost: Updating Stream Estimates in PRO/II

Updating stream estimates with solution data for streams containing pure, petro or user defined components is simple in PRO/II.  After solution, select your target stream, and then select Copy from the Edit menu (or use Control-C).  
Next, also from the Edit menu, select the Paste Special option.  In the Paste Special window that opens select the Total Stream Composition Data option and click OK.  Your stream should now be updated with the solution data.  Note assay generated pseudo components cannot be copied in this way.

About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

Read More

From Automation World: The Ever-Evolving Automation Industry

From Automation World: The Ever-Evolving Automation Industry

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From Automation World: The Ever-Evolving Automation Industry

In a one-on-one meeting with Invensys Operations Management President & CEO Michael Caliel and Systems Business President Gary Freburger,...read full article here

Interesting insights on Invensys and on the Automation industry from Invensys Operations Management President & CEO Michael Caliel and Systems Business President Gary Freburger. What do you think led to the rebound of the Automation Industry?


I feel confident in commenting on the Spiral Software acquisition. I really think this helps extend the SimSci-Esscor solutions throughout the entire refining value chain. I truly feel that the technology from Spiral Software will enhance out customers experience as we move forward, integrating Spiral technology with SimSci-Esscor simulation software.

Just think - instead of starting with generic crude slate in PRO/II when you are debottlenecking refinery processes if you can start with the exact crude slate that the plant will be processing - how much more accurate will your answers be?

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Energy Management Infographic - ROMeo can lower your energy costs!

What can ROMeo do for your energy costs?

ROMeo Utilities Optimization

The SimSci-Esscor ROMeo Utilities Optimization solution is being used to optimize performance in power plants across the globe. Plant energy costs are significantly diminishing with the help of this software. Plant management is always concerned about the ever-changing environmental restrictions and constraints. This software monitors and even possibly reduce emissions of CO2, SOX & NOX. With all of the benefits this solution has to offer, management can expect a typical payback in 6-12 months or less.

Guest Blogger: Kaylen McMullen, Marketing Assistant, Invensys Operations Management

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Refinery Wide Optimization

The declining global economy and increasing regional regulations are taking their toll on refineries. These two issues prove that there is no better time to improve performance and profitability. Invensys has developed products that find any chance of profitability anywhere in the refinery.


SimSci-Esscor’s ROMeo Online Performance Suite solution provides optimization features for the entire refinery. ROMeo Utilities Optimization optimizes the way plants supply energy from its utilities. It will significantly reduce energy cost, which is very often a refinery’s greatest expense. ROMeo Process Optimization allows for a change in operation based on current economic and process conditions. SimSci-Esscor’s ROMeo solutions are used by some of the world’s leading refineries including Exxon Mobil, Shell, and BASF. Invensys Yield Accounting Solution provides refineries with more accurate data and more reliable tracking. In doing this, it provides less room for error which also optimizes performance. Planning & Off-sites Integration with ROMeo is another Invensys optimization solution. Integrating ROMeo with planning LP technology and off-sites management applications allows for much less manual work.

Join the world’s leading refineries and start optimizing performance in your workplace by choosing Invensys optimization solutions.

About the ROMeo Online Performance Suite: Invensys offers numerous performance enhancing solutions as part of the Online Performance Suite (OPS) that allow customers to remain competitive in tough economic times. The ability to view what is happening at your plant now and make appropriate and timely business decisions is critical to optimal operation. ROMeo’s online rigorous modeling and equation-based real time optimization capabilities provide improved data that will assist refiners in dealing with changing market pressures, product values, energy costs and equipment performance. This suite provides assistance with energy management, non linear, olefins, and wellfield optimization.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Download Whitepaper on Processing Heavy and Extra Heavy Oils

Here is a sample of the white paper:

Introduction

The world’s energy industry has followed the availability of easily attainable and economically feasible supplies for the oil segment that has moved towards heavier feedstock. The earlier extraction, accessibility, transport and processing centered around lighter crudes with characteristics that could be uniformly and reliably processed in refineries using a stable of proven technologies is no longer possible. As those lighter crude supplies have become exhausted or more difficult to obtain, demand from emerging nations such as India and China has strained the supply chain. Because of their explosive growth, these and other countries experiencing economic growth are usurping an increasing amount of the existing supply of conventional crudes while investing in supplies of heavier sources as well. Heavier crudes have unique physical properties that often present costly refining challenges. Efficient processing solutions require a thorough understanding of the crude’s characteristics and operating behavior. Those involved in heavy or extra heavy oil refining must decide what they have and how they should process it.

Download and read the full white paper here: Whitepaper on Processing Heavy and Extra Heavy Oils

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Column Pumparound duties in PRO/II

How are Column Pumparound duties determined in PRO/II?

Pumparound duties are fixed implicitly when the user fixes the rate and the return temperature or DT.

About PRO/II: PRO/II is the major product in the Process Engineering Suite (PES). This process simulation software optimizes plant performance by improving process design, operational analysis, and performing engineering studies. It is designed to perform rigorous heat and material balance calculations for a wide range of chemical processes. PRO/II allows users to evaluate the use of heat integration with case studies, rigorously evaluate process improvements with the help of a process flow diagram (PFD), or model crude distillation units. PRO/II offers a wide variety of thermodynamic models to virtually every industry and is incredibly cost effective, decreasing both capital and operating costs.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Invensys Yield Accounting Solution from SimSci-Esscor

Check out this video for an overview of the Invensys Yield Accounting Solution

Invensys designed a robust Yield Accounting solution integrating ErrorSolver, a third party yield accounting software, with Invensys’ existing Off-sites solutions. The end result enables customers to reduce the work time in half associated with reconciling and closing the balances. Data does not have to be imported by multiple sources or manually entered. This direct integration thus lessens the implementation time and eliminates a source of errors that arise from manual entry of tank and movement data.



About Yield Accounting: The Yield Accounting solution from Invensys addresses one of the most stressing issues of a refinery, petrochemical plant, or other processing facility: unaccounted losses. This solution improves the efficiency in a facility with data reconciliation, which finds errors in raw plant data and closes the mass balance and production accounting, which allows the plant to better account for feedstock and products. Material tracking and product yield tracking accounts for inventory and pinpoints losses.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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Global Heat Transfer data in INPLANT / PIPEPHASE

Global Heat Transfer data in INPLANT / PIPEPHASE

User can define the heat transfer data for pipes and the surrounding medium e.g. Air, Soil or Water globally in the following steps:

1. Click  on the tool bar or go to General > Global Defaults

2. Under Thermal Defaults > Heat Transfer choose the required option

3.

Using the respective button enter data for the pipe & insulation, and / or surrounding medium

4.       The heat transfer data added this way becomes the default pipe information for the particular simulation.

About INPLANT: INPLANT is a fluid flow simulator for the design, rating, and analysis of plant piping systems. Piping designs have shown significant improvement and utilities have acquired lower capital/operating costs with the help of this Invensys solution. The simulator assists plants in their ongoing effort to improve safety in the workplace and to comply with regulatory requirements.

About PIPEPHASE: PIPEPHASE is part of its Upstream Optimization Suite solution from Invensys. It is currently being used by the world’s leading oil and gas producing companies to increase production. PIPEPHASE is a steady state, multiphase fluid flow simulation solution for rigorous modeling of gathering networks and pipeline systems. This solution can model applications ranging from single well sensitivity analyses of key parameters, to a multi-year planning study for an entire production field. It is improving profitability and performance in companies across the globe.

Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.

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