ORCA - Efficient Orchestration of Modular Process Plants
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project duration: 11/2017-10/2020
Project manager: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Leon Urbas
Fincancing: BMWI
Project partner:
ABB AG – Forschungszentrum Deutschland, Ladenburg
Evonik Technology & Infrastructure GmbH, Hanau & Marl
Sartorius Stedim Systems GmbH, Guxhagen
X-Visual Technologies GmbH, Berlin
Technische Universität Dortmund (Fakultät BCI), Dortmund
Umweltbundesamt, Dessau-Roßlau
PROJECT DESCRITPION
The chemical industry belongs to the industry branches in Germany which still produces energy intensively and in which the potential for saving energy remains very high. However, one has to distinguish between the continuous and highly efficient petrochemical and basic chemical production and the production of pharmaceuticals, fine and specialty chemicals. The last one still produces in batch operation in multi-product plants with an annual production of only a few tons. Due to the growing differentiation, an energy optimization of such small scale process is actually not economical.
The changeover from a batch production to a continuous production process has an enormous efficiency potential. Especially, if the devices are reusable and the production can be carried out in modular process plant, in which modules can be exchanged and the production capacity can be adjusted easily.
However, there still exists several problems which need to be overcome like a sufficient number of appropriate devices or standardization, which enables the use of such devices as modules. Furthermore, automation technology and data processing is needed to enable an easy and smart collaboration between the single modules.
The initiative ENPRO consisting of several major players of the German chemical industry with representatives of plant operators, module and sub-module producers, module automatizer, system integrators and universities join forces to work on these problems. Common design concepts will be developed so that the devices will be modularly constructible, intelligent and flexible.
The project ORCA works out new methods, models and tools for the orchestration and virtual commissioning of modular process plant and demonstrates the applicability by using reference implementations.
Besides the automated integration of services and operating screens of an intelligent module within a superior system, new aspects and concepts shall be worked out which enable an automated and complete commissioning of a process plant consisting of several modules
