Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Newfound optimism stems from rising availability of gas supplies in several nations, rich shale reserves in North America, and a new expansion wave for petrochemicals.
The $279 billion in overall spending is up nearly 15% from $244 billion in 2013.
HOUSTON -- The outlook for the global hydrocarbon processing industry (HPI) is upbeat. Global spending is expected to exceed $279 billion in 2014, and spending in the US alone is forecast to reach nearly $78 billion.
The publisher and editors of Hydrocarbon Processing released this information at the magazine’s 40th annual HPI Forecast and Breakfast, held Friday at the River Oaks Country Club in Houston.
The $279 billion in overall spending is up nearly 15% from $244 billion in 2013.
Read the rest here
What does your OTS do for you? This customer saved more than a year training each operator and increased profitability by 10+% with an Invensys OTS!
Customer References verified by TechValidate.
Monday, 21 October 2013
Product Marketing Manager: Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
Please apply if you are interested or send it to anyone that you think may be a good candidate.
I am looking for a seasoned product marketing manager with chemical engineering and operator training simulator or process simulation software experience.
This person is responsible for the definition and execution of the commercial and roll-out strategy of various products, including positioning, messaging, analyst relations, competitive intelligence, success stories, marketing strategy, channel readiness, digital marketing and sales collateral.
Responsibilities include:
- Plans, develops and implements marketing plans and activities including identification of market, estimates of sales volume and profits, and pricing and margin strategies/goals for specific product (lines) to establish, enhance or distinguish product placement within the competitive arena.
- Plans, develops and implements product launch plans, Sales tools, demos and other marketing assets to enable the effective market introduction of new/updated SimSci offerings. Primary product lines supported are: ROMeo: utilities and refinery optimization software, PRO/II: fluids modeling software, DYNSIM: dynamic simulation of plants and control equipment for operator familiarization, training, start up and shut down of processes, EYESIM: 3-D, interactive operator training, CONNOISSEUR: predictive control software.
- Collaborates with a variety of functional areas to develop and provide product/program definitions responsive to customer needs and market opportunities.
- Develops business plans and product positioning in the marketplace.
Please apply if you are interested or send it to anyone that you think may be a good candidate.
From ARC: "Invensys also released integrated Spiral CrudeSuitecrude oil knowledge-management software with its SimSci PRO/II design and ROMeo optimization software. The new integrated offering provides the hydrocarbon processing industry with a single-source software solution that enables access of the latest crude assay information for refinery design, analysis and optimization. The integrated Spiral CrudeSuite offering will provide crude assay information throughout plant lifecycle modeling from design through operations and performance optimization.
Spiral CrudeSuite is an enterprise toolset for sharing, managing and modeling crude oil information. Across the petroleum industry, its features enable companies to better extract maximum value from their data. It supplies validated crude assay data so engineers can design refinery processes using the company's SimSci PRO/II software, and its crude assay data helps engineers better optimize the refinery to further maximize profitability using the company's SimSci ROMeo software."
Today's blog post on Biofuel is the fourth in a series of post by Alevinia Wang, an intern at Invensys. Alevinia studied biofuels at Washington State University.
Process Simulation: An Essential Tool for the Algal Fuel Industry Model simulation of chemical engineering processes begins with an initial flowsheet. This flowsheet represents, in simple terms, the fundamental steps required to go from raw material to end product. Flow-sheets will, in theory, lead to a workable, but typically inefficient system. The difference between simply a workable system and a fully optimized one is where modeling comes into play. In order to achieve a properly optimized system an accurate virtual representation (a numerical model) is needed.
Modeling allows the level of complexity of the initial flow-sheet to be greatly expanded in an efficient manner. Expanding upon the initial flow-sheet allows for the introduction of additional variables that that will not only be analyzed, but will also be optimized.
For model outputs to be accurate, input data and model parameters must have a strong correlation with actual plant data. To acquire actual plant data and analyze its correlation to model data requires additional effort but this effort more than pays for itself. Modeling not only provides accurate estimates of plant costs but can provide solutions to controlling and reducing capital and operating expenditures.
There are hundreds, or even thousands, of variables functioning within a highly developed systematic production flowsheet that can all be quickly altered so that the model provides the most mathematically efficient plant operation.
The output of some models is very sensitive to even minor alterations to key variables. Specifically, in petroleum/ bio-fuel engineering simulations, temperature, pressure, and flow rate are crucial variables which, with minor alteration, can drastically alter model output. Taking advantage of parametric sweeping in PRO/II in conjunction with other compatible programming, a sensitivity analysis of objective parameters can be identified and determined. Then, optimizer in PRO/II assists with multiple variable optimization, expediting the best options modern programs can achieve. Particularly, in alga-fuel production, the composition of biomass feedstock is subject to time dependence due to the intensity of daytime and nighttime photosynthesis or even seasonal changes. Under such circumstances, system robustness would need to be taken into consideration.
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.
Today's blog post on Biofuel is the fourth in a series of post by Alevinia Wang, an intern at Invensys. Alevinia studied biofuels at Washington State University.
Process Simulation:
An Essential Tool for the Algal Fuel Industry
Modeling allows the level of complexity of the initial flow-sheet to be greatly expanded in an efficient manner. Expanding upon the initial flow-sheet allows for the introduction of additional variables that that will not only be analyzed, but will also be optimized.
For model outputs to be accurate, input data and model parameters must have a strong correlation with actual plant data. To acquire actual plant data and analyze its correlation to model data requires additional effort but this effort more than pays for itself. Modeling not only provides accurate estimates of plant costs but can provide solutions to controlling and reducing capital and operating expenditures.
There are hundreds, or even thousands, of variables functioning within a highly developed systematic production flowsheet that can all be quickly altered so that the model provides the most mathematically efficient plant operation.
The output of some models is very sensitive to even minor alterations to key variables. Specifically, in petroleum/ bio-fuel engineering simulations, temperature, pressure, and flow rate are crucial variables which, with minor alteration, can drastically alter model output. Taking advantage of parametric sweeping in PRO/II in conjunction with other compatible programming, a sensitivity analysis of objective parameters can be identified and determined. Then, optimizer in PRO/II assists with multiple variable optimization, expediting the best options modern programs can achieve. Particularly, in alga-fuel production, the composition of biomass feedstock is subject to time dependence due to the intensity of daytime and nighttime photosynthesis or even seasonal changes. Under such circumstances, system robustness would need to be taken into consideration.
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.
Friday, 18 October 2013
Today's blog post on Biofuel is the first in a series of post by Alevinia Wang, an intern at Invensys. Alevinia studied biofuels at Washington State University.
As biomass is also a primary resource for food production, the question arises: Must we replace a portion our food supply for energy production? The answer is no, not necessarily. The biomass sources can vary widely. Biofuel can be obtained from non-edible organic matter (such as wood chips, microalgae and grasses) and even animal waste.
Despite the wide variety and abundance of biomass resources and the reduction in carbon footprint, biofuel has faced a series of challenges. The greatest issue is the photosynthetic efficiency of plants themselves. Only 47% of the sunlight can be absorbed and utilized by green plants while green light, UV, and IR irradiation is by-passed. In addition, photosynthesis works most effectively in low light-intensity, it reaches its saturated status at about 20% of averaged sunlight intensity. The improvement of photosynthetic efficiency relies on the understanding of the fundamental mechanism of photosynthesis and process coupling in biomass cultivation.
We can conclude that Biofuel is a potential viable option that can ease our thirst for fossil fuel. In order for that to happen, however, the photosynthetic efficiency of the biomass needs to be improved through scientific and industrial efforts. Biofuel production is also the art of thermochemical process by subunit cooperation. Simulation of these processes can help researchers optimize each stage and achieve state-of-the-art levels of efficiency
Biofuel: A Renewable Solution for Future Energy Demand
The world’s current energy needs are being met primarily with ‘’fossil-fuels’’ which are non-renewable and the use of which creates the majority of the worlds pollution. Advancements in technology and political regulations have helped curb the environmental impacts of fossil fuel use but it is impossible to escape the eventuality of
simply running out. As the famed economist Herbert Stein once said, ‘’If something cannot go on forever, it will stop’’.The solution to this inevitability is Biofuel. Biofuel is derived from living organisms (biomass) whereas fossil fuel consists of decomposed relics of ancient biomass. Both Biofuel and Fossil Fuel are energy dense as a result of carbon fixation, however, the obvious difference between the two is the required time of formation (see Figure 1). Fossil fuel requires many millions of years to form thus making fossil fuel feedstocks (coal, crude oil, and natural gas) non-renewable for all practical purposes. Biofuel on the other hand is considered renewable because its ‘’cradle to grave’’ energy life cycle can be achieved in months, and is reproduced via photosynthesis and industrial bio-engineering processes. Furthermore, the photosynthesis required to produce Biofuel effectively recycles the CO2 that is produced during its end use (its conversion to energy).
Thus a significant net reduction of CO2 emissions is anticipated when compared to traditional fuel sources. A carbon neutral cycle can be achieved by balancing the CO2emission rate and biofuel production capacity. The implementation and promotion of biofuel will relieve the economic and environmental stressors caused by fossil fuel depletion, reduce dependency on foreign crude oil importation, and will improve the sustainability of society.
Despite the wide variety and abundance of biomass resources and the reduction in carbon footprint, biofuel has faced a series of challenges. The greatest issue is the photosynthetic efficiency of plants themselves. Only 47% of the sunlight can be absorbed and utilized by green plants while green light, UV, and IR irradiation is by-passed. In addition, photosynthesis works most effectively in low light-intensity, it reaches its saturated status at about 20% of averaged sunlight intensity. The improvement of photosynthetic efficiency relies on the understanding of the fundamental mechanism of photosynthesis and process coupling in biomass cultivation.
We can conclude that Biofuel is a potential viable option that can ease our thirst for fossil fuel. In order for that to happen, however, the photosynthetic efficiency of the biomass needs to be improved through scientific and industrial efforts. Biofuel production is also the art of thermochemical process by subunit cooperation. Simulation of these processes can help researchers optimize each stage and achieve state-of-the-art levels of efficiency
Thursday, 17 October 2013
"Oil’s availability is of course of immediate concern to every driver, especially at a time when gasoline prices are high once again. The much greater concern, however, is whether we are reaching a limit where oil can no longer be recovered at prices consumers are willing to pay.
If something like that turns out to be true—a scenario that generally goes by the name of “peak oil”—then long-term economic growth may be constrained across the industrial world. At the same time, to look at the brighter side of the picture, long-term carbon emissions may be lower than previously projected."
Read the full article here.
Two points that I found interesting:
- "The Age of Unconventional Oil and Gas" I agree with this point - we are at a point where recovering and processing unconventional oil & gas will be important if want to continue to use oil as a fuel.
- "In effect, they suggest, [oil] prices have reached a level where consumers seek alternatives or conserve, rather than pay more; if oil prices go significantly higher, then the effect is to plunge the industrial world into recession, lowering demand." I am not sure what the price of gas is where you are, but it is still lower than it was last year for me, so I think that the price can increase a little, but I think we are close to that price point.
Wednesday, 16 October 2013
SimSci Esscor SCP270 (Simulated Control Processor 270) software from Invensys, included in its Dynamic Simulation Suite (DSS), is replacing FSIM Plus. It provides Foxboro I/A Series system users with a comprehensive environment for modeling, testing, and system checkout prior to start up. SCP270 is delivered as part of a turnkey OTS from Invensys or for users for DCS Control Checkout for control logic checkout. Use of SCP270 will dramatically reduce start-up and commissioning times. The reduced start-up times provide customers with significant cost savings. This new software also allows for efficient operator training, control systems validation, and enhanced plant performance.
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Are you interested in process simulation software? Do you use SimSci simulation software? Do you have something to say? Use my blog as a platform to let your voice be heard.
I am looking for a few people within Invensys and outside of Invensys who are willing to be guest bloggers. We have over 108,000 views, and average 250-300 views/day now.
I’d like to offer our readers a forum to present their ideas and opinions on how to improve process simulations. All you need to do is to send your article to me, and I’ll attribute it to you & post it on their behalf - provided it is appropriate and relevant to our readers.
Please let me know if you are interested!
I am looking for a few people within Invensys and outside of Invensys who are willing to be guest bloggers. We have over 108,000 views, and average 250-300 views/day now.
I’d like to offer our readers a forum to present their ideas and opinions on how to improve process simulations. All you need to do is to send your article to me, and I’ll attribute it to you & post it on their behalf - provided it is appropriate and relevant to our readers.
Please let me know if you are interested!
Friday, 11 October 2013
What is relative tolerance vs. absolute tolerance?
- See the General data section. Absolute tolerances are expressed as the difference between the current value and the specified value. Relative tolerances are expressed as a ratio of the difference over the specified value.
- Relative tolerances are given as positive values.
- Absolute tolerances are given as negative values.
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.
- See the General data section. Absolute tolerances are expressed as the difference between the current value and the specified value. Relative tolerances are expressed as a ratio of the difference over the specified value.
- Relative tolerances are given as positive values.
- Absolute tolerances are given as negative values.
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.
Join me in congratulating Stephen Zitney Director, NETL AVESTAR Cente and the entire NETL team for Achieving Operational Excellence for Energy Systems from Smart Plant-to-Smart Grid
From the AVESTAR LinkedIn Group: "The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) has selected the “AVESTAR 3D Virtual Energy Plant Simulator and Immersive Training System (ITS)” as a winner of the 2013 FLC Mid-Atlantic Regional (MAR) Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. Based on the EYESIM virtual reality (VR) software from Invensys Operations Management and deployed at NETL's AVESTAR Center, the virtual energy plant ITS is used to deliver realistic, cost-effective, and low-risk workforce training to the energy industries. VR-based training helps operators increase their process knowledge and confidence, so they can bring plants online faster, reduce shutdowns and downtime, and reduce the risk and cost of equipment damage.
Several partners are working with NETL to make the system available to a wider audience. NETL has agreements with West Virginia University for engineering students and researchers and with Pierpont Community & Technical College for students in their power plant certificate program sponsored by FirstEnergy Corporation. A license agreement between NETL and Invensys will allow the technology to be delivered as a generic virtual energy plant ITS and be used as the basis for developing customized, plant-specific ITS solutions for the energy industry, academia, and national laboratories.
The award will be presented to NETL at the 2013 FLC-MAR meeting on November 13-14, 2013 in Leesburg, Virginia. http://www.flcmidatlantic.org/awards/2013/"
From the AVESTAR LinkedIn Group: "The Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) has selected the “AVESTAR 3D Virtual Energy Plant Simulator and Immersive Training System (ITS)” as a winner of the 2013 FLC Mid-Atlantic Regional (MAR) Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. Based on the EYESIM virtual reality (VR) software from Invensys Operations Management and deployed at NETL's AVESTAR Center, the virtual energy plant ITS is used to deliver realistic, cost-effective, and low-risk workforce training to the energy industries. VR-based training helps operators increase their process knowledge and confidence, so they can bring plants online faster, reduce shutdowns and downtime, and reduce the risk and cost of equipment damage.
Several partners are working with NETL to make the system available to a wider audience. NETL has agreements with West Virginia University for engineering students and researchers and with Pierpont Community & Technical College for students in their power plant certificate program sponsored by FirstEnergy Corporation. A license agreement between NETL and Invensys will allow the technology to be delivered as a generic virtual energy plant ITS and be used as the basis for developing customized, plant-specific ITS solutions for the energy industry, academia, and national laboratories.
The award will be presented to NETL at the 2013 FLC-MAR meeting on November 13-14, 2013 in Leesburg, Virginia. http://www.flcmidatlantic.org/awards/2013/"
Thursday, 10 October 2013
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Today's blog post on Biofuel is the fourth in a series of post by Alevinia Wang, an intern at Invensys. Alevinia studied biofuels at Washington State University.
Process Simulation:
An Essential Tool for the Algal Fuel Industry
Modeling allows the level of complexity of the initial flow-sheet to be greatly expanded in an efficient manner. Expanding upon the initial flow-sheet allows for the introduction of additional variables that that will not only be analyzed, but will also be optimized.
For model outputs to be accurate, input data and model parameters must have a strong correlation with actual plant data. To acquire actual plant data and analyze its correlation to model data requires additional effort but this effort more than pays for itself. Modeling not only provides accurate estimates of plant costs but can provide solutions to controlling and reducing capital and operating expenditures.
There are hundreds, or even thousands, of variables functioning within a highly developed systematic production flowsheet that can all be quickly altered so that the model provides the most mathematically efficient plant operation.
The output of some models is very sensitive to even minor alterations to key variables. Specifically, in petroleum/ bio-fuel engineering simulations, temperature, pressure, and flow rate are crucial variables which, with minor alteration, can drastically alter model output. Taking advantage of parametric sweeping in PRO/II in conjunction with other compatible programming, a sensitivity analysis of objective parameters can be identified and determined. Then, optimizer in PRO/II assists with multiple variable optimization, expediting the best options modern programs can achieve. Particularly, in alga-fuel production, the composition of biomass feedstock is subject to time dependence due to the intensity of daytime and nighttime photosynthesis or even seasonal changes. Under such circumstances, system robustness would need to be taken into consideration.
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.
Tuesday, 8 October 2013
I am pleased to announce that PRO/II 9.2 patch 1 is now available for download from the Software Updates & Knowledge Base page.
Here is a quick overview of the new features that are now available in addition to several defect fixes:
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.
About Spiral: Spiral Software, an Invensys company, provides the latest technology that allows for plant management to make the best possible choices in refining to improve planning and scheduling. Spiral software provides assay knowledge management techniques like the crude assay library that allows refiners to consistently make the best choices in trading and processing, which is essential for improving refinery profitability.
Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.
Here is a quick overview of the new features that are now available in addition to several defect fixes:
- Enhanced Run Unavailable Window
- Exclude Include Block diagrams
- Open File in Original Version
- Update icons in Menus and Toolbar
About Spiral: Spiral Software, an Invensys company, provides the latest technology that allows for plant management to make the best possible choices in refining to improve planning and scheduling. Spiral software provides assay knowledge management techniques like the crude assay library that allows refiners to consistently make the best choices in trading and processing, which is essential for improving refinery profitability.
Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.
Monday, 7 October 2013
Customer Evidence verified by TechValidate.
Friday, 4 October 2013
Invensys to supply refining simulators for KBR
Invensys will supply simulation software to help KBR best model its process technology, which KBR will use in design proposals to customers and on technology licenses. read full release here
Invensys will supply simulation software to help KBR best model its process technology, which KBR will use in design proposals to customers and on technology licenses. read full release here
Or check out the release on iom.invensys.com
Thursday, 3 October 2013
To remain profitable in a competitive marketplace, customers can trust Invensys’ Yield Accounting Solution for accurate financial assessments and tracking.
Invensys Yield Accounting: Simplifying the Process
To address the problems associated with many other solutions of its kind, 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.
Our solution leads the competition with its highly flexible and easy-to-use graphical modeling environment, automated gross error detection, composition tracking, and data reconciliation performance. Customers are now armed with the critical components to optimize performance in their workplace.
In the face of a tough economic climate, Invensys customers in refining, petrochemicals and processing cannot afford giving material away and incurring monetary losses due to internal error. Even a small percentage of unaccounted for material adds up during the course of a year and is likely to have a negative impact on a plant’s bottom line. Yield accounting, which closes the material balance by ensuring accurate tracking and financial assessment of receipts and shipments, may increase profitability in a facility by USD $ 4-5 million annually.
A variety of yield accounting solutions on the market today provide the necessary assistance in closing the balances. However, primary issues such as data quality, data reconciliation, and integration with data sources, have been reported with many of these solutions.
A variety of yield accounting solutions on the market today provide the necessary assistance in closing the balances. However, primary issues such as data quality, data reconciliation, and integration with data sources, have been reported with many of these solutions.
To address the problems associated with many other solutions of its kind, 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.
Our solution leads the competition with its highly flexible and easy-to-use graphical modeling environment, automated gross error detection, composition tracking, and data reconciliation performance. Customers are now armed with the critical components to optimize performance in their workplace.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Join SimSci related groups on LinkedIn
Or connect with me (Joseph McMullen) on LinkedIn - I regularly post updates for all SimSci software!
If you have an idea for a blog post, please let me know!
- SimSci
- PRO/II Users Group (1,149 members - our largest and most active group)
- PIPEPHASE Users Group
- DYNSIM Users
- ROMeo Users
Or connect with me (Joseph McMullen) on LinkedIn - I regularly post updates for all SimSci software!
If you have an idea for a blog post, please let me know!
All groups have discussions from users, new release announcements, and technical tips!
How else would you like us to interact with you?
How else would you like us to interact with you?
Significant fluctuations in energy prices today due to global and various regional economic and political environments necessitate agile response from businesses to remain profitable. Oil companies must adapt to changing product demand and raw material prices. In order to adapt accordingly, the refiner must completely understand the process. The only way to do understand the process is through simulation. However, the simulation of the process is only as good as the feedstock information.
Integrating crude assay knowledge management databases with simulations has a tremendous impact on the bottom line. Using actual crude assay data in your simulation makes your simulations more accurate, enabling superior process design and process optimization. Integration also allows oil companies to evaluate potential feedstocks using accurate models of their refining operations to judge the impact of each potential feedstock. This allows the business to adapt, by selecting feedstock over another or modifying the process to take advantage of alternative feedstocks.
Integration between Spiral CrudeSuite, PRO/II, and ROMeo from Invensys, assists refiners in meeting the increasing demands of today’s operating environment. This integration provides accurate crude feedstock information to process design and optimization simulations that greatly increases the accuracy of the models. Together, CrudeSuite, PRO/II and ROMeo provide enhanced accuracy in design and optimization.
Integration of these Invensys solutions increases the accuracy of refinery simulations allowing refiners to adapt. Adapting allows refiners to increase profitability by providing accurate process simulation.
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.
About ROMeo Refining: ROMeo Refinery is a plant wide optimization solution from Invensys. This optimization solution based on ROMeo process simulation software improves process monitoring, process optimization, utilities and hydrogen management, reactor model simulation, along with planning and scheduling to greatly enhance efficiency and profitability across the entire refinery.
Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information
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.
About ROMeo Refining: ROMeo Refinery is a plant wide optimization solution from Invensys. This optimization solution based on ROMeo process simulation software improves process monitoring, process optimization, utilities and hydrogen management, reactor model simulation, along with planning and scheduling to greatly enhance efficiency and profitability across the entire refinery.
Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information
Monday, 30 September 2013
SimSci Client Conference
October 14-17, 2013
Hilton Anatole Hotel
Dallas, Texas
Tuesday, October 15th
8:00 - 10:00 Invensys General Session
10:30 - 5:30 SimSci General Session – Highlights Include:
1. Customer Keynote by John Derbyshire (KBR)
2. Future Roadmap of SimSci Software
Wednesday, October 16th
8:00 - 5:30 Three SimSci Tracks
· Design Track - Highlights Include:
· Extending design & simulation with custom models in gProms by Pieter Schmal & Mark Matzopoulos (PSE)
· Integrated Cost Estimating with PRO/II by Tolis Chatzisymeon (Nomitech)
· Discussion about performance of Predictive PR78 EOS in PRO/II 9.2 by Dr. Sasaki (Toyo)
· Using HTRI technology with PRO/II by Fernando Aguirre (HTRI)
· Evaluation of Visual Flow v5.5 for Shell Process Safeguarding by with Ashok Dewan (Shell)
· Integration between Spiral CrudeSuite and SimSci PRO/II by Marina Velazquez (Invensys)
· Optimization & Off-sites Track – Highlights Include:
· ROMeo New Capabilities & Roadmap Optimization Integrated Offerings by John Hernandez and Tom Kinney (Invensys)
· Real-Time Optimization in ROMeo Using SimSci HDP Reactor by Jason Anderson, ExxonMobil
· RTO implementation in Crude Distillation unit at Reliance Industries, Jamnagar by Viknesh Raja (Reliance Industries Limited)
· SimSci APC Introduction by Tom Kinney (Invensys)
· Advanced Measurements Capabilities by Joe Fillion (Invensys)
· Simulation & Training Track – Highlights Include:
· Extending design & simulation to the cloud by Laurent TESTARD (Halias Technologies)
· Development of an Operator Training Simulator for a Continuous Catalytic Reforming Unit by David Masciola (ExxonMobil)
· Dynamic Simulation of the Compression System of a Delayed Coking by Washington de Oliveira Geraldelli (PETROBRAS/CENPES)
· Design and Operational Study of a 300 Km LPG-Pipeline using Steady State and Dynamic simulation by Alexander McDonald (ConsultorÃa Empresarial Ejecutiva)
· CLB Sim System Update - Integrating with Schneider Electric Controls by SKM
Thursday, October 17th
8:00 - 4:15 Technical Support Symposium - A full day of training including:
| · Taking Advantage of Excel with your Process Simulation | · Understanding Sour System Treatment using Amines |
| · Predicting Pure Component Properties | · DYNSIM Best Practices |
| · Significant Factors for Selecting Thermodynamic Methods in Simulation Models | · Refinery Reactor Models in ROMeo |
4:45 - 5:30 Invensys Closing Session
6:00 - 11:00 Closing Party at Dallas Cowboys Stadium!
Hi,
The Invensys team is conducting a customer research survey, in conjunction with TechValidate, about real-world usage of SimSci Operator Training Simulator (OTS). It's aquick 10-question survey. Your participation is important.
Take the survey here: https://www.techvalidate.com/registration/0b5cebf856
If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Joseph McMullen, SimSci Product Marketing Manager at Invensys, at joseph.mcmullen@invensys.com.
Thanks,
Joe
Great article on RefinerLink today: Improving Heat Exchanger Monitoring
"Heat exchanger monitoring is critical to driving optimal refinery performance by reducing operating cost and maximizing refinery yields. By focusing on the basics and utilizing every piece of data available process engineers can improve heat exchanger monitoring."Full article here
I agree with the author, Steve Pagani, that "Heat Exchange, just like Distillation, is the bread and butter of refinery process engineering." One way of doing that is with ROMeo's Performance Monitoring product is known as Automated Rigorous Performance Monitoring (ARPM). ARPM is a comprehensive monitoring solution for the oil and gas processing, refining, petrochemical and chemical industries. The product uses real-time plant data and rigorous simulation models to extract validated process, equipment, and heat exchanger performance information. Integration with Wonderware Intelligence EMI (Enterprise Manufacturing Intelligence) allows ROMeo’s industry proven results to quickly be visualized on Wonderware Intelligence’s web-based dashboards, displaying key performance indicators and other important operations information.
You can use ARPM to bring in your process data, reconcile that raw data, then use that information to track the performance of your heat exchanger over time. I have seen this used to pinpoint when maintenance is required, to determine equipment failure, or to process bottlenecks.
"Heat exchanger monitoring is critical to driving optimal refinery performance by reducing operating cost and maximizing refinery yields. By focusing on the basics and utilizing every piece of data available process engineers can improve heat exchanger monitoring."Full article here
You can use ARPM to bring in your process data, reconcile that raw data, then use that information to track the performance of your heat exchanger over time. I have seen this used to pinpoint when maintenance is required, to determine equipment failure, or to process bottlenecks.
Sunday, 29 September 2013
Customer Survey verified by TechValidate.
Learn about our academic program where we are helping students by accelerating learning with simulation!
Friday, 27 September 2013
On the Menu bar go to Option > Colors. User has an option of changing the color scheme for Line style attributes for various states, icon color or Flowsheet color. Clicking Restore Default takes the color scheme to its default.
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.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Invensys Software Conference: Fun Night at Dallas Cowboys Stadium
Are you coming to the Invensys Software Client Conference? If so, make sure you plan to stay for the party Friday night! If you are a sports fan, even if the Cowboys aren't your team, you can still enjoy the massive stadium, the amenities, and all the activities we have planned.
Are you coming to the Invensys Software Client Conference? If so, make sure you plan to stay for the party Friday night! If you are a sports fan, even if the Cowboys aren't your team, you can still enjoy the massive stadium, the amenities, and all the activities we have planned.
Tuesday, 24 September 2013
Did you see Roy Calder's presentation at PARTC?
A New Dawn in Refining – How next generation software tools are adding unparalleled flexibility to refinery operations allowing them to meet the differing demands of working in Africa
ABSTRACT
African refiners work in very different environment to their European, American and Asian competitors. With local regulation as well as capacity and logistical issues being added to the standard mix of economic and safety issues there is a growing realisation that today’s production tools may not be delivering a flexible enough approach to today’s refining challenges.
Global issues such as high crude prices and under utilisation of capacity and a changing product demand may not be the major issues affecting the decision making processes in an African refinery organisation. However the ability to plan crude purchases against the demands of the market and getting all this to fit within the actual operating envelope of the refinery means that existing decision making processes no longer meet the needs of operations and, more importantly, shareholders. Today an African refinery needs to be able to bring in the right crudes at the right prices to meet not only market demand but also to deliver demonstrable financial results.
Invensys has delivered numerous solutions to companies demanding an answer to the underlying issues raised by the differing challenges that each face based on both market, geographic and technological issues. This work has led to the development of an integrated toolset which forms the basis of this paper.
This paper will build on our previous work and will show how our toolset is growing and how it has been applied to a number of sites globally.
Authors:
Roy Calder – Invensys, United Kingdom*
Chris Hotblack – Invensys, United Kingdom
Dr Martin Turk – Invensys, United States
Dr Harpreet Gulati – Invensys, United States
Dr Rachel McCarthy - Invensys, United Kingdom
To get a copy of the presentation, email me at joseph.mcmullen@invensys.com
A New Dawn in Refining – How next generation software tools are adding unparalleled flexibility to refinery operations allowing them to meet the differing demands of working in Africa
ABSTRACT
African refiners work in very different environment to their European, American and Asian competitors. With local regulation as well as capacity and logistical issues being added to the standard mix of economic and safety issues there is a growing realisation that today’s production tools may not be delivering a flexible enough approach to today’s refining challenges.
Global issues such as high crude prices and under utilisation of capacity and a changing product demand may not be the major issues affecting the decision making processes in an African refinery organisation. However the ability to plan crude purchases against the demands of the market and getting all this to fit within the actual operating envelope of the refinery means that existing decision making processes no longer meet the needs of operations and, more importantly, shareholders. Today an African refinery needs to be able to bring in the right crudes at the right prices to meet not only market demand but also to deliver demonstrable financial results.
Invensys has delivered numerous solutions to companies demanding an answer to the underlying issues raised by the differing challenges that each face based on both market, geographic and technological issues. This work has led to the development of an integrated toolset which forms the basis of this paper.
This paper will build on our previous work and will show how our toolset is growing and how it has been applied to a number of sites globally.
Authors:
Roy Calder – Invensys, United Kingdom*
Chris Hotblack – Invensys, United Kingdom
Dr Martin Turk – Invensys, United States
Dr Harpreet Gulati – Invensys, United States
Dr Rachel McCarthy - Invensys, United Kingdom
To get a copy of the presentation, email me at joseph.mcmullen@invensys.com
Monday, 23 September 2013
How to use the Flash Stream Hot Key in PRO/II
Use this command to perform a Flash calculation on a selected input or feed stream This operation provides a quick and easy method to check the stream conditions, and can be extremely useful whenever you want to adjust the composition and/or stream conditions to meet certain requirements. When this command is selected, the stream is flashed under the given input conditions and the results are displayed in the editor as specified under the Options/Editor menu.
1. Select a feed or input stream
2. Go to the toolbar and click on Flash stream hot key
Use this command to perform a Flash calculation on a selected input or feed stream This operation provides a quick and easy method to check the stream conditions, and can be extremely useful whenever you want to adjust the composition and/or stream conditions to meet certain requirements. When this command is selected, the stream is flashed under the given input conditions and the results are displayed in the editor as specified under the Options/Editor menu.
1. Select a feed or input stream
2. Go to the toolbar and click on Flash stream hot key
As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team.
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.
Saturday, 21 September 2013
Virtual Stimulation of I/A Series DCS Control Processor | SCP270 from Invensys
Click on the Datasheet link to see the datasheet with more detailed information on SCP270.
Click on the Datasheet link to see the datasheet with more detailed information on SCP270.
Friday, 20 September 2013
Now that you have SimSci software, I want to know what we are doing right, and what we are doing wrong.
Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.
Thursday, 19 September 2013
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
US companies that refine oil increasingly doubt that the controversial Keystone XL pipeline expansion will ever be built, and now they don't particularly care.
Railroads are carrying soaring amounts of crude from Canada down to refineries along the US Gulf Coast, reducing the need for the TransCanada project, which is still awaiting approval from the US government after two years of delays.
Read the full article here.
Monday, 16 September 2013
You may want to check for two liquids on a column tray when not your distillation column is not using VLLE. VLLECHECK in the Chemdist Column can be used to check for two liquid phases on trays that are not using VLLE thermo.
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. PRO/II is known for distillation column simulation, especially in refining.
Technical Support: As always, feel free to reach out to your local technical support team for more information.
Saturday, 14 September 2013
There was a question in the DYNSIM LinkedIn group that I though we should post on the blog:
"Apart from the new name, could you summarize what is new compared to FSIM Plus "
Here is the response from Janet Parker, the product manager for SCP270:
SCP270, which is simulation for the current Foxboro Control Processor, provides Foxboro I/A Series system users with a comprehensive environment for modeling, testing, and system checkout prior to start up. It replaces the legacy FSIM Plus product, that was based on the discontinued AW Integrator technology, with a modern infrastructure that behaves identically to the CP270 with the same control block algorithms and communication systems. This means that peer-to-peer sizing and communication, memory footprint, and block count are identical between the SCP and a real CP. This one-to-one CP-to-SCP instancing differs from FSIM Plus that where several real CPs install in a single ‘super’ FSIM CP. A single SCP host computer can run up to 40 SCP instances, many times more than an FSIM Station, reducing the overall hardware footprint. Unlike FSIM Plus, the SCP host computer is not dependent on the I/A Series infrastructure, but runs on a modern, off-the-shelf Windows 7 64-bit or Server 2008 R2 OS multi-core enabled system. Unlike FSIM Plus, SCP270 v1 is not tied to a single, specific version of I/A Series software. It works with I/A Series 8.5 – 8.8 and will work with the next version of I/A Series software. Unlike FSIM Plus, SCP270 supports virtualization. For users who do not need I/O tieback or Operator Training Simulator (OTS) capabilities, the SCP270 software can run independently of DYNSIM, just like a real CP, so that I/A Series users do not need to learn how to use another modeling package. When used independently of DYNSIM, SCP software can be mixed with real CPs before or during a DCS Factory Acceptance Test which allows Foxboro to ship the actual hardware early. Finally, installing the SCP software is extremely easy. Unlike FSIM Plus, there is no need to create a custom System Definition to include a special station type. The I/A Series infrastructure ‘sees’ an SCP270 just as if it were a real CP270.
"Apart from the new name, could you summarize what is new compared to FSIM Plus "
Here is the response from Janet Parker, the product manager for SCP270:
SCP270, which is simulation for the current Foxboro Control Processor, provides Foxboro I/A Series system users with a comprehensive environment for modeling, testing, and system checkout prior to start up. It replaces the legacy FSIM Plus product, that was based on the discontinued AW Integrator technology, with a modern infrastructure that behaves identically to the CP270 with the same control block algorithms and communication systems. This means that peer-to-peer sizing and communication, memory footprint, and block count are identical between the SCP and a real CP. This one-to-one CP-to-SCP instancing differs from FSIM Plus that where several real CPs install in a single ‘super’ FSIM CP. A single SCP host computer can run up to 40 SCP instances, many times more than an FSIM Station, reducing the overall hardware footprint. Unlike FSIM Plus, the SCP host computer is not dependent on the I/A Series infrastructure, but runs on a modern, off-the-shelf Windows 7 64-bit or Server 2008 R2 OS multi-core enabled system. Unlike FSIM Plus, SCP270 v1 is not tied to a single, specific version of I/A Series software. It works with I/A Series 8.5 – 8.8 and will work with the next version of I/A Series software. Unlike FSIM Plus, SCP270 supports virtualization. For users who do not need I/O tieback or Operator Training Simulator (OTS) capabilities, the SCP270 software can run independently of DYNSIM, just like a real CP, so that I/A Series users do not need to learn how to use another modeling package. When used independently of DYNSIM, SCP software can be mixed with real CPs before or during a DCS Factory Acceptance Test which allows Foxboro to ship the actual hardware early. Finally, installing the SCP software is extremely easy. Unlike FSIM Plus, there is no need to create a custom System Definition to include a special station type. The I/A Series infrastructure ‘sees’ an SCP270 just as if it were a real CP270.
Wednesday, 11 September 2013
SimSci Esscor SCP270 (Simulated Control Processor 270) software from Invensys, included in its Dynamic Simulation Suite (DSS), is replacing FSIM Plus. It provides Foxboro I/A Series system users with a comprehensive environment for modeling, testing, and system checkout prior to start up. SCP270 is delivered as part of a turnkey OTS from Invensys or for users for DCS Control Checkout for control logic checkout. Use of SCP270 will dramatically reduce start-up and commissioning times. The reduced start-up times provide customers with significant cost savings. This new software also allows for efficient operator training, control systems validation, and enhanced plant performance.
For more information on SCP270, please go to the website.
Monday, 9 September 2013
October 14-17, 2013
Hilton Anatole Hotel
Dallas, Texas
Early Bird Discount Ends This FridayPreliminary Agenda
Tuesday, October 15th
8:00 - 10:00 Invensys General Session
10:30 - 5:30 SimSci General Session – Highlights Include:
- Customer Keynote by John Derbyshire (KBR)
- Future Roadmap of SimSci Software
8:00 - 5:30 Three SimSci Tracks
Design Track - Highlights Include:
- Extending design & simulation with custom models in gProms by Pieter Schmal & Mark Matzopoulos (PSE)
- Extending design & simulation to the cloud by Laurent TESTARD (Halias Technologies)
- Integrated Cost Estimating with PRO/II by Tolis Chatzisymeon (Nomitech)
- Discussion about performance of Predictive PR78 EOS in PRO/II 9.2 by Dr. Sasaki (Toyo)
- Using HTRI technology with PRO/II by Fernando Aguirre (HTRI)
Optimization & Off-sites Track – Highlights Include:
- ROMeo New Capabilities & Roadmap Optimization Integrated Offerings by John Hernandez and Tom Kinney (Invensys)
- Real-Time Optimization in ROMeo Using SimSci HDP Reactor by Tom Wren, ExxonMobil
- Advanced Measurements Capabilities by Joe Fillion (Invensys)
Simulation & Training Track – Highlights Include:
Thursday, October 17th
8:00 - 4:15 Technical Support Symposium - A full day of training including:
6:00 - 11:00 Closing Party
- Development of an Operator Training Simulator for a Continuous Catalytic Reforming Unit by David Masciola (ExxonMobil)
- Dynamic Simulation of the Compression System of a Delayed Coking by Washington de Oliveira Geraldelli (PETROBRAS/CENPES)
- Design and Operational Study of a 300 Km LPG-Pipeline using Steady State and Dynamic simulation by José Luis Zaragoza (ConsultorÃa Empresarial Ejecutiva)
- CLB Sim System Update - Integrating with Schneider Electric Controls by SKM
Thursday, October 17th
8:00 - 4:15 Technical Support Symposium - A full day of training including:
- Taking Advantage of Excel with your Process Simulation
- Understanding Sour System Treatment using Amines
- Predicting Pure Component Properties
- DYNSIM Best Practices
- Significant Factors for Selecting Thermodynamic Methods in Simulation Models
- Refinery Reactor Models in ROMeo
6:00 - 11:00 Closing Party
Join SimSci related groups on LinkedIn
Or connect with me (Joseph McMullen) on LinkedIn - I regularly post updates for all SimSci software!
If you have an idea for a blog post, please let me know!
- SimSci
- PRO/II Users Group (1,136 members - our largest and most active group)
- PIPEPHASE Users Group
- DYNSIM Users
- ROMeo Users
Or connect with me (Joseph McMullen) on LinkedIn - I regularly post updates for all SimSci software!
If you have an idea for a blog post, please let me know!
All groups have discussions from users, new release announcements, and technical tips!
What groups should SimSci be part of? Which companies should we follow?
What groups should SimSci be part of? Which companies should we follow?
Friday, 6 September 2013
And one final customer testimonial for the day, this one on PRO/II
Customer References verified by TechValidate.
I've always believed it to be true, but SimSci has the BEST technical support according to this customer.
Customer References verified by TechValidate.
Customer Evidence verified by TechValidate.
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