Overview

Most well-run plants will have a simulation model of the plant – maybe it was created during the plant’s design stage, or maybe it has been created since. The use of process simulators for operations support is however limited to ad-hoc use by unit engineers for troubleshooting and investigating improvements. The Engineer thinks what’s likely to happen and uses it for what-ifs scenarios, so that they can then try to calculate what the best value is.

There are problems in this system, improvements are only identified when engineers are focused on it, if actioned operators are not confident in the results of the ad-hoc model when making the change or an unexpected outcome happens meaning the unit engineers need to review the model again. All of this slows the rate of change or results in no improvement and often the resolution is that unit engineers stop using the model or build and test the model excessively losing focus on other more valuable improvements. Overall there is increased time and cost, delayed optimisations and missed improvements for the business – all resulting in lost profit.

This presentation demonstrates a practical approach being employed in the energy and chemical industry to minimize lost profit by delivering the results of simulation models to unit engineers in their daily operations environment, Andrew will detail how these latest technologies have now made it practical to use simulation models for continuous performance monitoring, adjustment and optimisation; setting them up as Digital Twins.

The presentation will illustrate the digital twin approach and its outcomes where complex up-to-date asset simulation models deliver result data into the enterprise information systems, providing improvements and importantly the value of doing them direct to the operations environment. This facilitates sound business decisions to be taken immediately.

Speaker

Andrew McIntee, KBC (A Yokogawa Company)

Andrew is the group strategic marketing manager for KBC solutions with a demonstrated history of asset optimization in the Energy and Chemical industry as consultant and project manager and in business development.

Andrew is responsible for delivering value focused solutions by integrating digitalization, software and subject matter expertise to deliver the best possible return on capital employed for his clients; across the entire value chain of upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas, chemicals and power.

Andrew has a Master of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Leeds. He has previously worked for Huntsman as a process engineer and then as an assistant plant manager.

The material presented in this webinar has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter’s own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Process Management and Control Special Interest Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Format

A one-hour online session: 40 minutes' presentation + 20 minutes' Q&A.