Hyperion's Advanced Process Technology Group has experience and track record in implementing APC solutions using a wide array of software technologies, but mostly the group's experience lies with the following tools:
Rockwell Pavilion8
Pavilion8 Control Applications are designed to meet the most demanding needs of today’s process manufacturers, whether they are making polyethylene, cement, ethanol, milk powder, paper, etc., Pavilion8 Control provides a computationally efficient multivariable model predictive control (MPC) technology for both nonlinear and linear applications. The foundation is our advanced hybrid modeling technology, combining both empirical process data with first principles knowledge of the process to create the most accurate process models possible. This sophisticated controller also incorporates variable dynamics for the tightest control during even the largest product grade transitions on complex, nonlinear processes. Integrated steady state and dynamic optimization ensures optimal control performance within process constraints and while meeting other objectives such as maximizing production or minimizing energy.
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MPC is a proven technology that reduces process variability and inefficiency, improves product consistency, and allows operations to push constraints to the limits. With more frequent grade changes, MPC is needed to effectively manage transitions and impart the necessary agility in accomplishing customer centric objectives, and improve overall business performance. |
Aspen DMCPlus
AspenTech's fieldproven multivariable control algorithm of Dynamic Matrix Control (DMC) was pioneered by Dr. Charles Cutler in 1979. The heart of the application is DMCplus, a model-based predictive controller, supplemented by two companion applications, AspenIQ , and AspenWatch. Since its initial release, the product has been enhanced significantly to improve reliability, robustness, ease of use and range of application.
DMCplus uses a time based step response model of the process to determine the best set of moves that keep the process at a given set of constraints determined by economics. It does this while dealing with disturbances, both measured and unmeasured. It is able to simultaneously manage multiple constraints and optimize an objective function based on economic targets, on-line or off-line. It is compatible with the leading Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and with automated plant optimization software such as AspenTech's RTOpt real time optimizer. Critical process properties that are not measured directly, such as feed composition, may be inferred from related process measurements such as temperature, pressure and flow. This is done by the AspenIQ inferential property estimator.
- Dynamic simulation capability with graphic and tabular interface allows APC engineers to test the configuration and predictions of a configured controller. This can be done prior to installation, during controller commissioning at the client plant sites or any other time.
- DMCplus offers a state of the art interface that allows construction of dynamic process models from collected on-line data for each pair of independent versus dependent variable in the design. Many special features allow fast and convenient data analysis such as data smoothing, curve transformations, seamless addition or exclusion of data blocks, seamless combination of model subsets into the overall model, and graphic comparison of predictions against real data, to mention a few.
