A vision of computer aids for the design of agile production plants

Abstract Chemical engineers may have to determine the functional requirements for a plant to produce a range of products, rather than just one. This gives rise to the need for process design tools that accept ranges rather than point values. Alternatively, to reconfigure a plant quickly and reliably, a good information model and agreed standards are essential. Existing solid modelling tools can then be used to visualise the changes and ensure that any clashes are detected and resolved before the physical changes are implemented on the plant. This paper describes a combinatorial approach to process, equipment and plant design that is capable of encompassing all these requirements, and contracts this method with traditional approaches. It is shown that traditional design methods may miss options that are identified using the combinatorial approach. Options identified by the latter approach may also lead to novel types of processes and equipment. Application of the new methodology is described in terms of scanning the multidimensional space describing the process, equipment and plant attributes. The new approach is particularly appropriate for the design of agile plants where decisions have to be made as how best to reconfigure an, existing facility to manufacture a new product.

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