Efficient Automation Engineering of Modular Process Equipment Assemblies Using the Digital Twin

• Published in: Chemie ingenieur technik Vol. 93; no. 12; pp. 2081 - 2091
• Main Authors: Rahm, Julian, Theißen, Manfred, Klose, Anselm, Soemers, Marcus, Temmen, Heiner, Schäfer, Christian, Urbas, Leon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-12-2021
• Subjects: DEXPI; Digital twin; Integrated engineering; Modular automation; Module type package
• ISSN: 0009-286X; 1522-2640
• DOI: 10.1002/cite.202100100

Modular process plants are a promising approach to accelerate the engineering of greenfield process plants. This is achieved by the combination of pre‐engineered process equipment assemblies (PEAs) with a standardized interface for the integration in process control systems, the module type package (MTP). This standardized interface can be integrated in the engineering process to further improve the potential. In this paper existing standards are used to generate aspects of the MTP. For this purpose, the engineering process of conventional plants is adapted for the engineering of PEAs. Therefore, similarities and potential of the described aspects have been analyzed regarding shared fundamental standards and characterized by their location in the asset life cycle. To describe the interconnections of the different standards, exemplary rules are proposed, which can be used for a transformation.
The standardized module type package (MTP), can be better integrated in the engineering process to further accelerate the process. It is described how existing standards can be used to generate aspects of the MTP. The engineering process of conventional plants is adapted for the engineering of process equipment assemblies. Similarities and potential of the described aspects are analyzed.